bible point sometimes we have to wait for god to...

23Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 4

Praise Jesus!

Bible Point Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer.

The Jews Rebuild the Temple • Lesson 2

Bible Verse“Be still, and know that I am God!’’ (Psalm 46:10a).

Growing Closer to JesusStudents will n learn about others who waited for God to answer a prayer,

n experience what it’s like to wait for something good, andn discover ways God is at work even when we may not notice.

Teacher EnrichmentBible Basisn The Jews rebuild the Temple.

The Temple had been so thoroughly demolished by the Babylonians in 586 B.C. that the foundation itself had to be laid again. When the people saw the new foundation complete, there was a mixture of joyful shouting and loud weeping (Ezra 3:12). It would have been impossible for those who once worshipped in Solomon’s beautiful Temple to witness the beginnings of a new Temple without recalling many painful memories of the Temple’s destruction. Furthermore, those who wept probably did so because they could see that the new

Temple was not going to be as glorious as Solomon’s Temple.The reconstruction began in 536 B.C. and wasn’t completed until 516 B.C. While worship did not cease

during those 20 years, the work itself did stop at times. Foreigners who had been resettled in the Holy Land by the Babylonians put up resistance to the rebuilding efforts (see Ezra 4). In part because of this discouragement, the Jews waivered in their spiritual priorities. God addressed both problems. First, he overcame the opposition from foreigners so that they were even forced to pay for part of the reconstruction (Ezra 5:1–6:15). Second, he raised up two prophets—Haggai and Zechariah—to encourage the people to finish the work. The biblical books of Haggai and Zechariah record their messages to the returning exiles.

Other Scriptures used in this lesson are Genesis 15:3-5; 21:5-7; Psalm 145:14-15; John 11:1-6; John 11:38-44; John 17:20-24; Romans 8:25; and James 5:7-8.

Prayer• Read 1 Corinthians 6:19-20.• How often do you as a believer remember that you are the temple of the Holy Spirit?• How does thinking of ourselves as the dwelling place of God on earth affect how we live our lives?• Pray: God, it amazes me that you dwell in me. Help me live in such a way that I am a beautiful temple for you in

this world. Help the children I teach to understand that they, too, can be a temple of the Holy Spirit.

Ezra 3

Hands-On Bible Curriculum—Grades 3 & 424

Lesson 2

This Lesson at a GlanceWhat Children Will Do Classroom Supplies Learning Lab Supplies

Attention Grabber

Is It Time Yet?—Try to guess when one minute has passed, and then learn to be still before God.

Bibles, CD player, plate of snacks, clock with second hand

Bible Exploration &

Application

Laying the Foundation—Prepare logs and lay bricks on the foundation for the Temple as they hear about the rebuilding project in Ezra 3.

“Building Plans” (p. 32), pencils, index cards, paper, newsprint, ruler, crayons, scissors, tape, glue sticks, CD player

As Time Goes By—Pass a time marker to see how long Lazarus and Abram had to wait, and then read Romans 8:25 to see how God wants us to wait.

Bibles, masking tape

Waiting Room—Create a pleasant picnic area while they wait to enjoy their treat; then read Psalm 145:14-15 to learn that God provides what we need at the right time.

Bibles, newsprint, markers, tape, paper cups, water, snacks from opening activity

Closing What Does Your Garden Grow?—Read James 5:7-8, and affirm qualities in themselves that take time to grow.

Bibles, newsprint, crayons, tape

Before the Lessonn Collect the necessary items for the activities you plan to use, referring to the Classroom Supplies and Learning Lab

Supplies listed on the chart.n Make photocopies of the “Hands-On Fun at Home’’ handout (at the end of this lesson) to send home with your

children.n Pray for your students and for God’s direction as you teach the lesson.

Lynn

Highlight

Lynn

Highlight

Lynn

Highlight


The Jews Rebuild the Temple

WelcomeAs kids arrive, ask them about ways they put last week’s lesson

into action. Ask questions such as “What prayers did God answer?’’ and “What was it like to use a prayer journal?’’

Remind the kids that whenever you sound the giggle hammer, they are to stop talking, raise their hands, and focus on you. Remind them that when their hands go up, their mouths go shut. Explain that it’s important to respond to the signal quickly so the class can do as many fun activities as possible.

Attention Grabbern Is It Time Yet?SUPPLIES: Bibles, plate of snacks, CD player, clock with second hand

Bring delicious-looking snacks, such as glazed doughnuts, to class. Place them on a plate in a prominent area where kids can see and smell them. Cue the CD to “Minute Music’’ (track 7).

Have kids form a circle so they are sitting with their backs to the center. Place a plastic stirrer on the floor in front of each student. Use pencils if you have more students than plastic stirrers.

Say: You may have noticed some tasty-looking snacks when you came in the room. Who would like one? Pause while kids raise their hands. Well, you may have to wait for them, but I promise we’ll have them before the end of class. Now let’s see what kind of timing you have.

When the music starts, close your eyes. I’m going to watch the clock for one minute. When you think one minute is up, hold up your plastic stirrer. Once your stirrer is up, you have to leave it there until I stop the music. We’ll see who comes the closest to the one-minute mark.

Make sure everyone’s eyes are closed, and then play one minute of the “Minute Music’’ (track 7). Pause the CD after one minute. (You’ll need to keep an eye on the clock.) Congratulate the student who held up his or her plastic stirrer closest to the one-minute mark. Have kids put their stirrers down and play one more time. Again, congratulate the student with the best “timing.’’ Collect the plastic stirrers, and return them to the Learning Lab for later use.

Ask: • What was difficult about this activity? (I didn’t know when one minute was up; I tried to count but got confused; one minute is a long time; I was tired of waiting.)

• Why did one minute seem to take so long? (Because we weren’t doing anything; because we wanted to hold up the stirrers; because we wanted to win the game.)

• What things in real life seem to take a long time? (Car trips; math class; church; waiting for my birthday.)

Repeating the Bible Point over and over will help the children remember it and apply it to their lives. Help children learn one point that will stay with them for days and even years to come.

track 7

Kids may ask periodically if they can have the snack. Patiently tell them that they’ll have to wait until you’re ready to give them the treats.

into action. Ask questions such as “What prayers did God answer?’’ and “What was it like to use a prayer journal?’’

they are to stop talking, raise their hands, and focus on you.


Lesson 2

Say: When we pray, God hears us. We know that he’ll answer us, but his timing may be different from ours. We may expect an answer right away, but sometimes we have to wait for God to answer.

Say: You know, there’s a great verse in the Bible about waiting for God. In fact, it’s today’s Bible verse. Have kids turn in their Bibles to Psalm 46:10a: “Be still and know that I am God.” Have them repeat the verse with you several times.

Let’s try being still and silent for another minute. This time, don’t try to guess how long you have to sit there. Instead, listen quietly and see what you hear that you didn’t hear the last time around. Ready? Be still!

Have kids close their eyes and sit silently for a minute. Then ask them to open their eyes and answer these questions.

Ask: • What did you hear this time that you didn’t hear last time? (The clock ticking; a truck outside; my stomach growling.)

• Why do you think God wants us to be still and think about him? (So we can calm down; so he can talk to us; because it’s good for us.)

Say: It’s important to focus on God and remember that he’s in control. We can trust God with our prayers and our plans and our lives, because he loves us and knows what’s best for us. Try to remember this verse the next time you feel stressed out and worried. Just be still and remember that God’s in control. You just might be surprised at what you learn about God!

Many times in the Bible, God’s timing surprised people. Today, we’ll learn how the Jews had to wait a long time for God to answer a very special prayer.

Bible Exploration & Applicationn Laying the FoundationSUPPLIES: ”Building Plans’’ (p. 32), scissors, pencils, index cards, paper, newsprint, ruler, crayons or markers, glue sticks, transparent tape, CD player

Before class, photocopy the “Building Plans’’ handout, and cut apart the three sections. Place each section in a different part of the room along with pencils and an index card. Set out paper, newsprint, a ruler, index cards, crayons or markers, scissors, glue sticks, and transparent tape.

You’ll also need to have the CD in the CD player, ready to play “All Work and No Play’’ (track 8).

Have kids form a line and put their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Say: The Israelites had been slaves in Babylon for 70 long years. Let’s imagine what that must have been like.

Play “All Work and No Play’’ on the CD, and lead the line around the room. Have kids pretend they’re slaves, chained together. As they walk, encourage them to say whatever they think the people of Judah might have said to God. They might say, “It’s so hard being away from home,’’ or “When will we be free?’’

When the sounds stop, stop the CD player, and have kids stop walking. Say: After the people of another country conquered Babylon, the Jews were allowed to

tracks 8-9



return to Jerusalem! They would be able to worship God in the Temple once again. The Temple was more than a church to the Jews. It was a beautiful place that King Solomon had built many years ago, using gold, bronze, and fine woods. Many Jews were excited to go home!

Play the “Free at Last’’ track on the CD (track 9). Encourage kids to raise their hands, jump up and down, and cheer along with the CD. When the sounds stop, turn off the CD player and have kids sit down.

Say: But being set free was just the beginning. Things had changed. Jerusalem was in ruins, and the beautiful Temple had been burned. The people had lots of work to do before they could worship in the Temple again. Let’s form three groups to experience how the Israelites rebuilt their Temple.

Have kids form three groups, and have each group form a circle around the “Building Plans” handout section, index cards, and pencils you placed earlier. Say: The people returned to Jerusalem and Judah and settled in their hometowns. They gave whatever they could as offerings to rebuild the Temple.

Have kids tear the index cards into small, round coin shapes so each person has one. Ask them to each think of a gift they could give to God and write what they think of on the paper coin. Allow a minute for kids to tell those in their group what they wrote on the coins.

Then say: Seven months after the Israelites had settled in their hometowns, they met together in Jerusalem. Even though the foundation of the Lord’s Temple hadn’t been laid yet, they worshipped God and gave him their offerings.

Take the crayon bank to each group, and ask everyone to put his or her coin inside. When the last group has given its coins, say: The Israelites gave money to bricklayers and carpenters. They also gave food, wine, and olive oil to people from Sidon and Tyre in exchange for logs to use for the Temple. More than two years after arriving in Jerusalem, they began the rebuilding. Let’s see what kind of work might have gone into rebuilding the Temple. To make it a little easier, each group will work on part of the Temple foundation.

Tell groups they’ll have two minutes to complete the work described on their team’s instructions. Make sure kids realize that their work is important for a solid foundation. After two minutes, sound the giggle hammer. Have kids circle around the newly laid foundation.

Say: When the builders finished laying the foundation, the worship leaders took their places and praised the Lord. They sang to the Lord: “He is so good! His faithful love for Israel endures forever!’’ Then all the people shouted praise for the Lord because the foundation of his Temple had been laid. Let’s circle around the foundation and shout this together: “Praise the Lord! The foundation of his Temple has been laid.’’

Lead kids in shouting praise, and then say: We built this model foundation pretty quickly, but it took a long time for the Israelites to rebuild the Temple.

Ask: • What did you think while you were waiting for other groups to finish their part of the foundation? (This is boring; it’s neat to see this come together; they’re so slow; when will this be finished?)

Bible InsightCyrus’ decree for reconstruction of the Temple clearly stated that only exiled Jews returning to their homeland were to work on the rebuilding. Thus many locals, whose help was rejected, impeded the progress of the project. This was one of the major reasons for the two-year delay of the rebuilding.

While the Design Team is completing the foundation outline, the Cedar Log Team and the Bricklaying Team will need to wait to add their parts to the foundation. Encourage kids to work on making cedar logs and bricks while the Design Team is working. It’s OK if kids need to wait a little—it will only reinforce the Bible Point!


Lesson 2

• What do you think the Israelites thought while they waited to worship in the Temple? (This will never be finished; this is such hard work; I wish we were done; why is this taking so long?)

• Why did they praise God after the foundation was laid? (They were thankful that they were closer to finishing; they knew God was answering their prayers; they could see progress.)

• Was the Temple worth waiting for? Why or why not? (Yes, because it was special to them; yes, because they knew it would be great; I’m not sure.)

• What are some other things that are worth waiting for? (Christmas; birthdays; a new brother or sister; saving up for a new video game.)

• Why is it worth waiting for God to answer our prayers? (Because he answers with good things; because his answers are always right; sometimes all we can do is wait.)

Say: The Israelites may have wanted God to give them a new Temple right away, but they learned that important things are worth waiting for.

Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer our prayers.Move the foundation of the Temple to the side of the room. Remove the paper from

the crayon bank, and return it to the Learning Lab.

n As Time Goes BySUPPLIES: Bibles, masking tape

Tape a piece of masking tape to the floor in front of you. Distribute Bibles and say: Other people in the Bible had to wait for God to answer their prayers, too. I need two volunteers to read about Abram.

Choose a volunteer to read Genesis 15:3-5 while others follow along. Say: Let’s see how old Abram was when God answered his prayer. Pretend that each time we walk past this tape mark, 25 years go by.

Lead kids in walking around the circle four times, counting the years by 25. When you stop, have the second volunteer read Genesis 21:5-7. Say: Abraham was 100 years old when he had a son! His son was named Isaac, which means “laughter.’’

Ask: • Why is that a good name for Isaac? (Because Abraham and Sarah were happy when he was born; because people would laugh if you told them that your dad was 100 years old.)

• What do you think people thought when Isaac was born? (Wow; no way; that’s amazing; God really did keep his promise.)

Say: Now I’ll need two more volunteers to read about some other people who waited for God to answer their prayers. Have a volunteer read John 11:1-6 while others follow along.

Let’s walk around our clock again and imagine that each time we pass the tape mark, 24 hours go by. Walk around the circle four times, counting the number of days that pass as you walk. Have the other volunteer read John 11:38-44 while others follow along.

Ask: • What do you think people thought when they saw Lazarus alive again? (Wow! How could Jesus do that? Jesus is God; this is hard to understand; this is incredible!)



Say: There’s another verse that applies to both Abram and Lazarus. Find a partner and read Romans 8:25 together. Then discuss my questions together. After a minute, ask:

• What are some things that you’re hoping or praying for? (My grandma to get better; my baby brother to be born; that I’ll do better in school; for my dad to come to church.)

• Why is it hard to wait for those things? (Because I want them so badly; because if she isn’t healed she could die; because it’s so important.)

• What can we learn from the stories and verses we’ve just read? (That God will answer, even if it takes a long time; that God loves us and gives us what we ask for; that we can trust God to answer our prayers.)

Say: Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer our prayers. Pray with your partner about one of the things that he or she mentioned. Your prayers might not be answered for a while, so remember to pray for patience and wisdom to see God’s answer.

When pairs have finished praying, have kids form trios for the next activity.

n Waiting RoomSUPPLIES: Bibles, newsprint, markers, tape, paper cups, water, snacks from opening activity

Say: At the end of this activity, I promise you’ll be able to enjoy the treats I’ve brought. You may be hungry, but I don’t think you’re quite ready for them. First, let’s make some changes in the room.

Assign one or two groups the task of straightening up the room and making banners. Banners may have pictures, words of affirmation for the class, or encouraging verses on them. Provide large sheets of newsprint, markers, and tape. Send these groups to one area of the room.

Assign another group or two to create a picnic area. This may include making a large, colorful picnic blanket out of newsprint, laying the foam flowers on the floor, or opening the doors and windows to let in some fresh air.

Assign another group or two to fill some paper cups with cold water—preferably from a drinking fountain. Then they can place them around the picnic area.

Give groups two or three minutes to complete their assignments. You may roam around the room to offer suggestions or answer questions. After a few minutes, sound the giggle hammer, and gather kids in the picnic area.

Say: You’ve waited a long time. Here are your treats!Serve the treats, and enjoy one with the students. As they finish eating, ask:• Was the snack worth waiting for? Why or why not? (Yes, it’s delicious; yes, I

was starving; yes, because I got hungrier and hungrier.)• Did any of the changes in the room help you enjoy the snack a little

more? If so, how? (Yes, the water because I was thirsty; the breeze felt good while we sat and relaxed; the picnic area made it seem like a party.)

Say: While you were waiting to eat your snack, you found some very productive things to do! With your trio, look at Psalm 145:14-15. See if you can figure out why we had the snacks now instead of earlier.

As you teach third- and fourth-graders, keep in mind the following aspects of their social development:

• They want to be part of a group.

• They enjoy extended group projects.

• They are able to accept limited constructive criticism.

• They naturally avoid interaction with the opposite sex.


Lesson 2

Give trios a few moments to read the passage, then ask:• What does verse 15 mean? (God gives us what we need at the right time; God

knows when we need something; God’s timing is right.)• How is verse 15 like what we just did? (You waited to give us the food, just

like God waits to answer our prayers; you waited until the room was ready, like God waits until we’re ready; you waited until we were hungry, and God waits until we really need the prayer answered.)

• What things can we do while we wait for God to answer our prayers? (Pray; trust him; continue to follow him; grow closer to God; help others.)

• The things we did to the room made the snack a little more enjoyable. How will waiting for God make our answered prayer better? (We will appreciate it more; we’ll be ready for it; God will have helped us grow.)

Say: Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer our prayers. But while we’re waiting, there’s so much we can be doing—growing closer to God, learning to trust him, and showing his love to others. All these things will make our answered prayer seem that much sweeter!

HANDSON BIBLESay: The Israelites had a big job to do when they returned

to Jerusalem. It was slow going sometimes as they rebuilt the Temple. Sometimes we may feel like God is slow in answering our prayers, but that’s never the case. God knows what we need and when we need it! As we just learned, there are plenty of good things to be doing as we wait for God to answer our prayers.

Have kids turn to the “That’s a Pigsty!’’ activity on page 461 of their Hands-On Bibles. Have them work together to clean up your room or another part of your church. (Make sure all kids are supervised at all times.) Then gather together and enjoy a well-deserved rest!

Closingn What Does Your Garden Grow?SUPPLIES: Bibles, newsprint, tape, crayons

Before class, put newsprint on the wall. Use crayons to draw flower stems on it. Draw one stem for every two people in your class.

Have a volunteer read James 5:7-8. Say: Farmers wait patiently for their crops to grow. God is growing good qualities and characteristics in each of us, and we must wait patiently for them to grow.

Form pairs and give each pair a foam flower. Tell them to take turns thinking of something good that God is growing in their partner, like the ability to be a good friend or being faithful to come to class. Have them hand the flower back and forth until they’ve named a characteristic for every petal. Then have them tape their flowers to the stems on the newsprint and list near the flower some of the things they named. (You’ll use the foam flowers in future lessons, so have kids attach them so they’re removable.)

The pages in this Teacher Guide are perforated for your convenience. Tear out “Hands-On Fun at Home’’ and other handouts for easy photocopying, or tear out an entire lesson and take it to class.



When each pair has finished, say: Waiting is hard, but God is at work even when we may not notice it. Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer, but when we pray, he will answer at the right time.

Say: In just a minute, we’re going to pray for each other. But before we do, I want to let you know that you’ve already been prayed for. It’s true—it’s in the Bible. And you’ve been prayed for by none other than Jesus! I’ll show you what I mean.

Give each pair a Bible, and have partners read together John 17:20-24.

Ask: • Who is Jesus praying for in this passage? (Everyone who would ever believe in him; us; me.)

• How does it make you feel to know that Jesus has prayed for you? (Cool; awesome; a little embarrassed.)

Say: Jesus loves you, and he wants you to believe in him. In fact, he already prayed for you when he was here on earth, more than 2,000 years ago! That should give you a clue about how much you mean to him! Jesus prayed for you—now you can pray for someone else.

Have partners commit to praying for each other during the week, asking God to help their partners wait patiently for his answers to their prayers. Remind kids that Jesus prayed for them before they were even born, and encourage kids that God will always be with them.

Return the foam flowers to the Learning Lab for use in future lessons.

If there are more than 20 students in your class, trace a foam flower on construction paper and cut out more flowers for the additional pairs.

Growing closer to Jesus extends beyond the classroom.Photocopy the “Hands-On Fun at Home” handout (at the end of this lesson) for this week, and send it home with your kids. Encourage kids and parents to use the handout to spark meaningful discussion on this week’s topic.

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Building Plans

n Design Team:Collect newsprint, a ruler, crayons or markers. On the newsprint, draw a

rectangle that’s 18 inches wide and 20 inches long. This is the foundation. Using crayons or markers, make a colorful border for the foundation. When you’re finished, place the foundation in the middle of the room, sit down, and quietly wait for others to finish.

n Cedar Log Team:Collect paper and tape. Roll the paper into long “logs’’ and secure them

with a piece of tape. These are the cedar logs. Make enough cedar logs to cover the rectangular foundation. When you’ve finished, tape the cedar logs over the bricklayers’ bricks on the foundation. Then sit down and wait quietly while others finish.

n Bricklaying Team:Get glue sticks, tape, scissors, and index cards from the table. Cut the

index cards in half to make bricks. Then glue them inside the foundation, side by side, so they cover the rectangular foundation. Make a second sheet of “bricks’’ the same size as the one in the foundation by taping additional bricks together. When the Cedar Log Team has laid the cedar logs on the foundation, lay your second layer of bricks on top.

Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Grades 3 & 4 granted for local church use. Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com

33Permission to photocopy this handout from Group’s Hands-On Bible Curriculum® Grades 3 & 4 granted for local church use.

Copyright © Group Publishing, Inc., 1515 Cascade Avenue, Loveland, CO 80538. group.com

LESSON 2

Make a Patience Package to donate to

a children’s

hospital. Fill a shoe box with games, books,

activity books, crafts, or healthy

snacks to give kids something to do

while they wait.

Sometimes we have to wait for God to answer.

• Read James 5:7-11.

What is something you’re

waiting for God to do in your

life?

• Read Isaiah 40:29-31.

Tell about a time you had

to trust God for something.

What did you learn from your

experience?

• Read Psalm 27:1.

How can your faith in God

help you wait for his answer?

Use pretzel sticks

to make an edible Temple. Dip the ends

of each pretzel stick in cream cheese and

stack them together, alternating sides.

Cover your Temple with a graham cracker

roof.

“Be still, and know that I am God!’’

(Psalm 46:10a).

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