Sunday Spotlight is where we share our Calvary Kids Bible lesson topic each week for kids of all ages. Use this lesson for a Family Night devotion or a preview/review time to talk about what your children are learning at Calvary on Sundays. These lessons correspond to the take-home cards your child receives each week. We post a new lesson here every Wednesday.

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Sunday, March 22

Lesson Title: God Brought His People Home

Bible Passage: Ezra 1-3

Key Passage: Isaiah 25:9

Big Picture Question: How did God plan to fix what sin broke? Before He created the world, God planned to send the Messiah.

Lesson Summary

The Bible is described as a book about God fulfilling His promises to His people, and in Ezra 1-3, we see how God fulfilled the promise He made to bring His people home after 70 years in captivity. God used King Cyrus of Persia to issue a decree that allowed the Israelites to return home. 
  
Just as the prophecies of Daniel remind us of God’s control over the kingdoms of the world, so do the first few verses of Ezra. We learn how God “roused” the spirit of King Cyrus to move him to release the Israelites. God’s control over kings and kingdoms was even more evident because Cyrus didn’t send the Israelites home empty-handed. They returned with resources provided by the king and their neighbors. Only God could reverse the Israelites’ fortunes in such a quick way—from exiles with nothing to a returning remnant with resources to rebuild.

God often works through a remnant of people, no matter how small that group may be. Once this remnant of God’s people returned to their homeland, they set about the process of rebuilding Jerusalem and the temple. At the center of their rebuild, the leaders of the people rightly recognized the importance of worship. Just a few months after returning from exile, they began rebuilding the altar of God so they could restart their worship according to God’s commands. They knew the rebuild would only succeed when God's people turned to Him in proper worship, turning away from their sin and obeying Him.  
  
Before the foundation of the temple was laid, the leaders rebuilt the altar, demonstrating their desire for God's people to atone for their sin. Through opposition and uncertainty, they established a place for the priests to offer burnt sacrifices on behalf of the people. 
  
Like the remnant of Israelites, we need to remember that true restoration begins with a reconnection of God through worship. We were created to worship God and glorify His name. Encourage kids to remember that before we try to rebuild the outer elements of our lives, we must first prioritize the exaltation of our Savior.

 
Christ Connection

This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.

• Babies & Toddlers: Everyone who believes in God will one day live with Him, be happy, and worship Him forever in heaven.
   
• Younger Preschool: God kept His promise and brought His people home. One day, God will bring all His people together to a new, perfect place where no one will cry anymore, and everyone will be happy and worship God forever.
   
• Older Preschool: God kept His promise and brought His people back to Jerusalem. One day, God will bring all His people together in a new, perfect place where no one will cry anymore, and everyone will worship Him forever.
   
• Kids: Just as God promised, He brought His people back from exile to Jerusalem. One day, God will bring all His people together—all who trust in Jesus to save them from sin. There will be no crying that day. The people will worship Him in the new heaven and new earth.

Big Picture Question & Answer

This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Younger Preschool: How did God fix what sin broke? God sent Jesus.
   
• Older Preschool: How did God plan to fix what sin broke? God planned to send Jesus.
   
• Kids: How did God plan to fix what sin broke? Before He created the world, God planned to send the Messiah.

Key Passage

Isaiah 25:9  This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.

• Babies & Toddlers: This is our God. He saved us. Let’s rejoice and be glad! Isaiah 25:9
   
• Younger Preschool: This is our God. We waited, and He saved us. Isaiah 25:9
   
• Older Preschool: "Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he has saved us." Isaiah 25:9
   
• Kids: "On that day it will be said, 'Look, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he has saved us. This is the LORD; we have waited for him. Let’s rejoice and be glad in his salvation.'" Isaiah 25:9

Next week: Rebuilding the Temple (Ezra 4-6; Haggai 1-2)

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And check out our playlist on Spotify — these songs are featured in our Kid Zone and Zone 345 worship time on Sundays. Sing along at home or on the road!

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