session 8: zechariah, prophet to returned exiles zechariah ...god promised a king who would save his...

FOR THE LEADER

Zechariah, Prophet to Returned ExilesZechariah

Zechariah was not just a prophet, he was also a priest. Zechariah was the grandson of Iddo, a priest who had returned from the exile in Babylon with Zerubbabel. In Hebrew the name Zechariah means “Yahweh remembers.” Zechariah was a contemporary of Haggai and while Haggai encouraged the people to continue their building of the temple, as a priest Zechariah helped the people understand the religious implications of their need to rebuild.

The Book of Zechariah is referred to many times in the New Testament, and Matthew relied heavily on the Book of Zechariah when writing his Gospel. Zechariah 9:9 is quoted twice in the gospels, by both John and Matthew. Zechariah 9:9 identified the coming Messiah as humble and riding on a donkey. This prophecy was fulfilled on the day Jesus rode a donkey into the city of Jerusalem beginning the final week of His life on earth.

Zechariah is the longest of the twelve books of the Minor Prophets, and Zechariah shared, through a series of visions, how God wanted the people to respond when they returned to Him. Zechariah began his prophecy by reminding the people what had gotten them into the situation they had been in, namely sin. The problem of sin had been Israel’s undoing before and without keeping it in check, it could very well be again. Zechariah recalled for the people the commandments set down by God and how those commandments, when obeyed, would lead them to restoration.

While the construction of the temple was a physical reminder to the people of God’s rescue of them, they also needed to focus their hearts on rebuilding their spiritual relationship and faith in God. Spiritual restoration was the most important thing. While the people would continue to struggle to obey, God promised a king was coming to bring salvation to the people.

Session 8Session 8: Zechariah, Prophet to Returned Exiles

61Session 8: Zechariah, Prophet to Returned Exiles© 2020 LifeWay© 2020 LifeWay

OVERVIEW

GET STARTED TOOLS (10 MINUTES)

¨ Bible Skills: “Bible Book Cards” (Printables), Bibles

BIBLE STUDY TOOLS (35 MINUTES)

¨ Jump In: “Seven-Spouted Lamp” (Slides)

¨ Examine the Text: copy paper, “Text Truth Strips” and “Christ in Context: Zephaniah” (Poster Pack), Bibles

¨ Play the Video: Explore the Bible on Location video

¨ Memory Verse: “Zechariah 14:9” (Poster Pack)

¨ Prayer: Family Cards

SMALL GROUP TOOLS (30 MINUTES)

¨ Move: pool noodle, adult scissors

¨ Make: white construction paper, white crayons, small cups, watercolors, water

¨ Explore: basic school supplies, gallon size plastic bags, Optional: copy paper, markers

SESSION FOCUSBIBLE PASSAGE: ZechariahMEMORY VERSE: Zechariah 14:9TEXT TRUTH: God promised a King who would save His people.CHRIST IN CONTEXT: The Book of Zechariah offers prophecies concerning the future hope of God’s people. Zechariah described a Savior that would be a Servant and a King. Jesus came to fulfill Zechariah’s prophecy and rescue everyone who believes in Him.

62 Explore the Bible: Younger Kids© 2020 LifeWay© 2020 LifeWay

BIBLE STORY

EXPLORE THE BIBLE AT HOMESee the Printables for additional family resources.

ZECHARIAH, PROPHET TO RETURNED EXILESZechariah

God’s people had been conquered and exiled because they had not kept their covenant with God. A group of God’s people had been allowed to return to their homeland and begin rebuilding the temple and the city of Jerusalem.

Zechariah shared this message with the people by telling them about some visions God had given him. God used a vision of a gold lampstand to help Zechariah understand that God would empower His people to rebuild His temple. Although the people felt small and unimportant and faced opposition, God was with them. God would help Zerubbabel and the people rebuild the temple. Zechariah had eight different visions that included four horsemen, a flying scroll, and four chariots. Zechariah’s visions helped the people understand that God was in control and He was with them.

Zechariah also made an important promise about the future. Zechariah prophesied about the Messiah. He said, “Rejoice! Shout in triumph Jerusalem. Your king is coming to you. He is righteous and victorious. He is humble and riding on a donkey.”

God would send His Son to rescue people from their sin. Jesus would be a humble, righteous King who would pay the price for our sin.

KEY POINTS • God used visions to communicate His messages for the people. God was

in control and He was with them.


GET STARTED

BIBLE SKILLS SPOTLIGHT• Understands that God told the writers of the Bible what to write.

• Learns the Bible teaches that Jesus died on a cross, was buried, and

was raised from the dead.• Knows the Bible tells that God sent Jesus to earth because He loves

all people.• Reads and locates Bible references.

TOOLS:• Bible Skills: “Bible Book

Cards” (Printables), Bibles

GET STARTED (10 MINUTES)

BIBLE SKILLS ¨ Print off the Old Testament “Bible Book Cards.”

• Form two groups. Ask one group to step outside the room with an adult. Ask the other group to hide the “Bible Book Cards” around the room. Ask the first group to return and search for the “Bible Book Cards.” When a child finds a card, ask her to quickly find that book in the Bible. Help the groups trade roles and play again as time allows.


BIBLE STUDY

TOOLS:• Jump In: “Seven- Spouted

Lamp” (Printables)• Examine the Text: copy

paper, “Text Truth Strips” and “Christ in Context: Zephaniah” (Poster Pack), Bibles

• Play the Video: Explore the Bible on Location video

• Memory Verse: “Zechariah 14:9” (Poster Pack)

• Prayer: Family Cards

BIBLE STUDY (35 MINUTES)

JUMP IN • Say: “Welcome back to another week of Explore the Bible. We have been

studying several of the Minor Prophets. Let’s say all the books of the Minor Prophets. When you get to one that we have studied, jump up and shout it out.” Lead kids in reciting Hosea–Malachi.

• Continue: “Today, we are going to explore the Book of Zechariah. Zechariah was a prophet to the returned exiles. Zechariah saw many visions, such as horsemen, a gold lampstand, a basket, and a flying scroll. Zechariah’s visions shared that one day, God would live with His people. God promised a King who would save His people. That King is Jesus.”

• Display the “Seven-Spouted Lamp” image.• Continue: “Our object is a reminder of one of the visions from Zechariah.

The lamps Zechariah saw reminded God’s people that God was with them and would help them rebuild the temple. Our lamp also reminds me of a special promise God made about Jesus. God promised a King who would save His people. Let’s learn more!”

EXAMINE THE TEXT ¨ Prepare strips of paper with the following verses: Zechariah 1:2-4; 2:10-12; 7:11-13; 9:9; 14:9. Optional: Write one verse of each reference per strip to allow more children to participate.

• Ask for volunteers to look up a verse(s) to read to the group. • Say: “I need a few volunteers to look up some verses and read them for us.

Who would like to read?”• Ask the first volunteers to read Zechariah 1:2-4 and 7:11-13.• Ask: “What did Zechariah warn the people?” (He asked the people to not be

like their ancestors, but to return to following God.) “How did God describe their ancestors?” (He called them stubborn. He said they would not listen. He described their hearts as hard.) “God loved His people. He desired true followers.”

• Ask a volunteer to read Zechariah 2:10-12.• Continue: “God wanted His people to know He had not forgotten them.

He spoke through Zechariah to tell them that He would live among them. He told His people that many people would come to follow Him. God promised a King who would save His people. That King is Jesus.”

• Ask volunteers to read the remainder of the verses. Tell the remainder of the story in your own words, using the Bible story page as a guide.

• Display the “Text Truth Strip.”• Say: “These verses continue to show us that God had a plan to save His

people. God promised a King who would save His people. That plan is Jesus. Jesus came to earth as a baby. He died on a cross as a man. After three days, He was raised from the dead.”


BIBLE STUDY

• Display the “Christ in Context: Zephaniah” poster and read for kids how the Book of Zephaniah teaches us about Jesus.

PLAY THE VIDEO• Play the Session 8 video.• Ask: “What type of hero was Joel? What heroes did he learn about at the

museum? What Bible hero did Joel learn about today? Why is Jesus the greatest hero of all?”

MEMORY VERSE• Display “Zechariah 14:9.” • Say the verse in small segments and lead girls and boys to repeat after

you. • Ask kids to form a circle and sit down. Walk around the circle repeating

the verse, then lightly tap a child. This child will walk around the circle while repeating the verse. She will tap another child. Play as time allows.

• Encourage children to choose a different child each time, so each child can play.

• Repeat the verse together as a group to finish the activity.

PRAYER• Distribute a Family Card to each kid.• Say: “We have been learning that we all sin. Remember, God cannot

ignore our sin, but He will forgive us when we repent. God spoke through Zechariah to tell the people to not be like their ancestors and to return to following God. God told the people that He would live among them one day. God promised a King who would save His people. God promised to send Jesus. Jesus was born as a baby. He died on a cross to pay the price for our sin. He was raised from the dead after three days. God did all this for me and for you! God loves us. God desires that we be true followers not pretenders. God should be most important in our lives.”

• Pray.• Dismiss to Small Group.


SMALL GROUP

HORSE RACETools: pool noodle, adult scissors

¨ Cut the pool noodle in half.

• Form 2 groups. Ask kids to race from one end of the room to the other like they are riding a horse. Ask the

first child back to repeat the Memory Verse and ask the other child to repeat the Text Truth. Continue playing

as time allows. Help kids as needed.

• Say: “Zechariah had many visions. One of those visions included four horsemen. Zechariah’s visions revealed

that God would send a forever King. God promised a King who would save His people.”

TOOLS:• Explorer Guides: Bibles,

Explorer Guides, pens

SMALL GROUP (30 MINUTES)

EXPLORER GUIDES• Give out Explorer Guides and lead kids to locate today’s pages.• Invite a kid to read about today’s object in the “7-Spouted Lamp.”• Help kids apply today’s Bible truths by recording their responses in

“Small and Unimportant?”• Choose a volunteer to read “Tiny and Tough.”• Lead girls and boys to solve the “Promises Code.” (Answers: king, righteous,

humble, victorious) • Select a volunteer to read aloud about “Zechariah’s Visions.”

TECH CONNECT (OPTIONAL)• Prior to Small Group, download the LifeWay Kids app. Use the activity

labeled “Explorer Plus” in the Explore the Bible: Kids section of the app.

ACTIVITIES• Select one or more of the activities to complete as time allows.

MOVE


SMALL GROUP

REVEALEDTools: white construction paper, white crayons, small cups, watercolors, water

• Ask girls and boys to write the Memory Verse

or Text Truth on the construction paper with

the white crayons. They will need to press firmly. When they finish the task, allow them

to paint over the words to reveal the secret message.

• Say: “Zechariah had many visions that revealed that God would send a forever King.

God promised a King who would save His people. That King is Jesus.”

SERVICE PROJECTTools: basic school supplies, gallon size plastic bags, Optional: copy paper, markers

• Spread the supplies out on a table. Allow each child to pick out school supplies and place them in a plastic bag to donate to a school for the upcoming school year.

• Optional: Allow children to make cards of encouragement for the kids and teachers who will receive the bag.

• Say: “Zechariah spoke of a forever King. God promised a King who would save His people. Jesus came to earth and taught others how to serve. You are serving other girls and boys in our community by gathering school supplies. These supplies will go to a local school. God is using you to serve others.”

SMALL GROUP

EXPLORE

MAKE


session 8: zechariah, prophet to returned exiles zechariah ...god promised a king who would save his...

Documents