Chapel of the Cross Faith & Family

This interactive Bible time is a great way for your family to gather around God's Word and read, listen, watch, sing, and do activities together that help you learn more about God's great love for you in Jesus.

What person can you count on to always keep his or her word?

God’s people had lived in exile in Babylon for around seventy years, just as God had said they would. God sent them prophets like Jeremiah to comfort them and people like Daniel to protect them. Then Babylon was conquered by Persia, and a new king ruled. God moved King Cyrus to make a decree that God’s people could go home and rebuild the temple in Jerusalem! About eighty years later, a new king, Artaxerxes, allowed the priest and scribe Ezra to return to Jerusalem to study the Law of the Lord and teach God’s rules in Israel. Thirteen years later, God again worked in King Artaxerxes’s heart to allow his very own cupbearer, Nehemiah (who was also one of God’s people), to go to Jerusalem and rebuild the wall. It wasn’t easy for the returning people of Judah—all the countries around them tried to stop them. But finally the temple and wall were rebuilt, and God’s people were safe. The people had a huge celebration!

Heavenly Father, we become discouraged by the evil in this world. Help us trust in You to keep the promise of salvation in Jesus that we find in Your Word. Amen.

God keeps His Word.

• Open your family Bible or a Children's Bible storybook and read this account together OR
• Read this account using an online Bible (Biblegateway.com) OR Ezra 1:1–2; 7:11–28; Nehemiah 2:1–8; 12:27–43
• Listen to the Bible account being read using the video below.
  

• How did God keep His promise to bring His people back to their homeland?
• What did Ezra help the people do?
• What did Nehemiah help the people do?
• How did the people thank God for keeping His word and bringing them home?
• How does God keep His promises to us, His people, today?

God worked in the heart of King Cyrus to allow God's people to return from exile to Jerusalem. King Cyrus even let them take back many of the beautiful things that had been taken from Solomon's temple.

Ezra went back to Jerusalem and restored the worship services at the temple. He taught the people God's Law and how to serve God.

Nehemiah went back to Jerusalem and inspired the people to work hard to rebuild the walls.

When the temple and the walls of Jerusalem were finished, the people had a huge celebration, giving thanks and praise to God for keeping them safe and keeping His promise to bring them home.

God keeps His promises to love us and care for us each day. God's greatest promise was fulfilled in Jesus, who died for our sins and rose again so that we can live forever with Him in heaven.

You are a gracious and merciful God. Nehemiah 9:31

Download a page of activities and crafts that help connect Bible learning to life.

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.

Thank You, heavenly Father, for keeping Your promises. Thank You especially for keeping Your promise to send a Savior, Your Son, Jesus. Bless us this week as we live as Your redeemed children. Help us to share this wonderful good news with others. In Your name we pray. Amen.

A portion of these Bible lesson materials are from the Enduring Faith Bible Curriculum from Concordia Publishing House. Used by permission.

Find more resources to help your family draw closer to Christ at cph.org.

Click here for free devotional materials for children, families, and adults.

Chapel of the Cross--Lutheran exists to show the love of Jesus to North County and beyond, so that all may have a living relationship with Christ.

Our Core Values:

• Empowered by the cross of Christ
• People working together
• Opening the Word to all people
• Showing the love of Jesus
• Warm and supportive environment

Email: pastorlaesch@chapelofthecross.org
Website: http://www.chapelofthecross.org/
Location: 11645 Benham Rd, St. Louis, MO, USA
Phone: (314) 741-3737
Facebook: facebook.com/ChapelSTL