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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.
The Walls Rebuilt (Nehemiah 1-6)
In the first chapter of Nehemiah, we learn that Nehemiah’s heart was broken when he heard that the walls around the city of Jerusalem were in disrepair. While Nehemiah was in a place of prestige and importance, he was willing to sacrifice that position, travel back to Jerusalem, and dedicate himself to rebuilding the walls of Jerusalem. Nehemiah understood that without walls around the city, Jerusalem was in danger of being destroyed or ransacked again by other groups of people living around them.
Once Nehemiah began the work of getting the people together to rebuild the walls, opposition quickly came in the form of a neighboring group of people. The opposition leaders decided that they needed to stop the work by killing Nehemiah if necessary. When confronted with the opposition, Nehemiah refused to give up his place working on the wall. He said to his enemies, “I am doing a great work and cannot come down” (Nehemiah 6:3). The Bible tells us Nehemiah had to refuse their request five times. Despite this opposition and much more in the days ahead, God strengthened His people, and they completed the walls in only 52 days.
Nehemiah reminds us of the importance of staying focused on the task to which God has called us. It is so easy to get distracted in the world in which we live, and yet God has called us to be focused on doing His will.
Let’s pray, Thank You, Lord, for Your good and perfect plans. Thank You for Jesus and for giving us everything we need to do the work You have called us to. Help us honor and glorify You with our lives. Amen.
Family Discussion Questions:
God’s people had enemies. Do Christians have enemies today? Who?
- [Parent prompt] Explain that yes, Christians do face enemies today, but these enemies are not always people. Instead, the Bible teaches that Christians’ real enemies are spiritual forces like Satan and his lies, which try to keep people from following God. However, just like Nehemiah and God’s people in Jerusalem, Christians can trust that God is stronger than any enemy.
God’s people worked together to rebuild the wall. Do Christians need to work together? Why should they?
- [Parent prompt] Yes, Christians are called to work together with other believers. Just like God’s people worked together to rebuild the wall in Nehemiah’s time, we are called to support and help each other in our faith today. The Bible tells us that the church is like a body, and each person has a special role to play. When we work together, we can build up each other’s faith and help grow God’s kingdom.
How did Nehemiah trust God when facing the enemies who tried to stop the rebuilding?
- [Parent prompt] Nehemiah trusted God by praying first and asking for His protection. Nehemiah reminded the people that God was with them and encouraged them to keep working. Nehemiah also took wise action to show he trusted God. He set up guards to protect the workers and had them carry weapons while they built the wall. Discuss how we can show we trust God through prayer and by being obedient to what He calls us to.
Christ Connection
- Babies & Toddlers: Like Nehemiah helped keep his friends safe, Jesus keeps us safe too. When we follow Jesus, He will give us life with God forever.
- Younger Preschool: Like Nehemiah helped keep his friends safe, Jesus rescues us from sin and death. When we follow Jesus, He is with us and will give us life with God forever.
- Older Preschool: Nehemiah helped rebuild the walls to protect the people from their enemies. Jesus protects us from our enemies of sin and death. When we follow Jesus, He keeps us safe, and we will live with Him forever.
- Kids: God’s enemies tried to stop His people, but they still rebuilt the wall. God’s enemies tried to stop Jesus by killing Him, but God planned for Jesus’ death and resurrection to be the only way for people to be saved.
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