Elementary Level, Block 8—Ezra / Nehemiah / Esther
Week 75
Ezra—Taught the Word of God
Point to Emphasize: We can be those who know the Word of God to teach others.
Reference Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-9, 18
Memory Verse: Hear instruction, and be wise; / And do not neglect it. (Proverbs 8:33)
Story Sample
Ezra was well known for his knowledge of God’s Word. The children of Israel who had returned to their homeland loved God, but they did not know His Word very well. This is why Ezra was such a big help to them. Ezra was someone who read God’s Word and helped the people of God to understand it. Ezra was really important to God and the children of Israel!
When the children of Israel returned to their land, many of them did not know God’s Word, so they lived their lives and worshipped God according to what they thought was right. But they did not know what God said about how they should live! And they did not know how God wanted them to worship Him! They did not know a lot of things, because they did not know God’s Word.
Many people today are like this. They may know that God exists and may even love God, but they do not know His Word. Because of this, they never check God’s Word to see if He likes the way they are living or worshipping Him. God says a lot in His Word. It is like a letter He has written to us! You can find out all about God and what He likes and dislikes by reading His Word. If we want to know God Himself, we need to learn about Him in His Word.
So let’s return to Ezra and the children of Israel in the good land. All the people were gathered together into an open area, and Ezra would read the Word of God to them as they listened and read the book of the law. Probably many who were there that day had never heard God’s Word. Of those who had heard or read God’s Word, not many may have understood it. So, as Ezra read, he and others would help the people understand God’s Word. It’s so important to know and understand the Word of God!
One time I stayed with a family who had four children. Every evening the family would sit on the couch for a few minutes and read the Bible. The oldest girls were eight-year-old twins, their younger brother was five, and the baby was about two. The children sat on their parents’ lap as their parents read a short portion of the Bible to them. That is such a good family practice. [Storyteller, insert your own story about reading the Word with your family.]
What are some things you do together as a family? Would you like to read the Bible with your family at home? [Encourage them to bring this up with their parents at home.]
Ezra read and explained God’s Word, and that really helped the children of Israel. By hearing God’s Word, they realized that God was not happy about some of the things they did. They became very sad and were sorry. Then they made some changes. They were God’s people, and they wanted to please God according to His Word. They changed some things in their living to please Him, and they began to worship God according to His Word.
We are from families who care for God, so it is the same with us! It is important that we read and understand God’s Word. The Bible is not like any other book. It is not common or ordinary. It is a holy book, because God is holy and the Bible is God’s speaking. We can learn the Word of God by reading and memorizing verses, then one day we will be like Ezra—able to teach the Word of God to others. Even now, we can share a Bible verse or a song with others.
So this week, let’s all encourage our families to take some time each day to read God’s Word together.