The Captives Came Home
LESSON DATE & SCRIPTURE: jan. 18 | EZRA 1-3
New city catechism question of the week:
Question #3: How many persons are there in God?
Answer: There are three persons in one God: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Memory Verse: Jeremiah 29:11 (runs through 1/25/25)
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Talk about it together
God’s people went through hard times when they were taken to Babylon. Even in those tough years, God never stopped loving them and promised he would never leave them. He spoke through prophets like Ezekiel and Jeremiah, reminding the people that they would not live far away forever. God promised to bring them home. And he kept his promise.
A king named Cyrus freed God’s people, and a leader named Zerubbabel helped them rebuild the temple. The temple was the special place where God met with his people on earth.
Today, we don’t need a temple to worship God. Because Jesus died on the cross for our sins, we can talk to God and worship him anywhere. Jesus came to save us, and one day he will return to create a perfect home where all God’s people will live with him forever.
Family discussion
Why do you think God allowed his people to live in exile?
Who is with us when we face hard times?
How can we know God loves us in difficult times?
Family prayer
Lord, we trust you are always with us, even in hard times. Thank you that through Jesus we can worship you anywhere. Amen.