"DREAM BIG DREAMS" – NEHEMIAH BIBLE STORY LESSON

LEARNING AIM: To encourage children to do what is right and persevere even when it’s difficult.

BIBLE VERSE: “I can do all things through Christ who strengths me” (Philippians 4:13, NKJV).

OBJECT LESSON:

Preparation: Place as many Lego® building blocks as you can find into the Surprise Discovery Box.

How many of you have ever built anything with Lego® building blocks? Did you ever spend a lot of time building something, only to have a brother or sister come along and destroy your project? How did you feel when that happened?

Choose children, one at a time, to take a handful of blocks from the box until they are all out on a table. Tell the children you are going to allow 5 minutes for them to work together and build a wall.

Have the boys and girls knock down the wall they built and leave it lying on the table.

BIBLE STORY

Nehemiah 2-8

Preparation: The boys and girls stand during the story. Every time they hear the word “worked”, they bend to the ground and pretend to pick up a brick. (Demonstrate.)

Story: Nehemiah usually had a smile on his face because he was happy serving the king. One day, his face was sad.

The king said to him, “Why the long face? Are you sick?”

Nehemiah replied, “No. I am sad because I learned the walls around Jerusalem are broken down. Jerusalem used to be my home town. I think God wants me to go and rebuild the walls so the people will be protected. May I go?”

The King responded: “Yes, Nehemiah. It will not be an easy job, but you may go and rebuild the walls.”

It was going to be a big job. A really, really big job. Nehemiah soon had many people willing to help him rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.

On day 1, they got up early in the morning. They worked, and worked and worked. On day 2, they worked and worked and worked. On day 3, they worked and worked and worked.

Some people watched what was going on and said, “You can’t rebuild the walls.” Others laughed and made fun of them and tried to stop them from building.

Nehemiah prayed and asked God to give everyone strength to finish building the walls. The people kept at it. They never quit.

On day 4, they worked and worked and worked. On day 5, they worked and worked and worked. Nehemiah encouraged everyone not to give up. The workers never gave up. They never quit.

On day 6, they worked and worked and worked. They worked for 52 days rebuilding the walls until finally the project was all done. The walls rose high around the city of Jerusalem once again.

Then everyone gathered together, worshipping and praising the Lord. They thanked God for helping them rebuild the walls.

SONG: “Dream Big Dreams”
Words and Music by Mary Rice Hopkins

Again and again
They all told little Ben
Don’t fly that kite, it won’t fly
But instead he stood tall
With his strength and his all
Ben kept on till he found the light

Chorus:
Dream big dreams, stand up and believe
Don’t go with the crowd, stand apart
Dream big dreams stand up and believe
You may have to stand apart
Sometimes you’ve got to follow your heart

They all told little Chris
The world is not like this
Instead he said, “I’ll sail so far”
One day he found He knew it was round
He sailed the seven seas so far

(Repeat Chorus)

Bridge:
Well, in your heart you may be someone
Who will sail the seven seas
And in your dreams you may someone
Who will find a cure for disease

(Repeat Chorus)

Dream big dreams

© 2007 Big Steps 4 U (admin. by Music Services) All Rights Reserved. ASCAP
Scripture Memorization

Preparation: Use 11 bricks, shoe boxes, or large blocks. On the side of each, tape one word of the Bible verse and reference. Stack them on a table, with the first word of the verse at the top and the reference on the bottom.

Activity: Read the verse together 3 times in unison. Choose a child to take off the first brick. Say the verse. Ask another child to remove the next brick. Repeat the verse. Continue until all bricks have been removed and the verse is being said from memory.
Make ‘n Take Creative Project

“Jerusalem Wall”

Needed for Each Child: Piece of card stock cut in half for each child. Fold both ends in the opposite direction so it will stand, making a wall. Print Bible verse strips with today’s scripture.

Activity: Children glue on the Bible verse strip to the top of the wall. Boys and girls then glue Life® (or any other flat, square) cereal to the front of the cardstock to represent stones.

Snack ‘n Yak Time

Snack: Have children spread white icing between 2 square graham crackers to represent the bricks and cement used in rebuilding the wall.

Yak: While the boys and girls are enjoying the snack, review the story: How do you feel inside when someone laughs at you and says you can’t do something? Who gives us the strength to dream big dreams and stand up against the crowd? Has God ever given you a hard job to do, like Nehemiah had in rebuilding the wall?