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The Lord will not remain angry forever. He wants to start over with His people

71

Lesson 71 - Ezra 1-3 - A promise is a promise

Lesson text to learn: The Lord will not remain angry forever. He wants to start over with His people
Related Bible text: Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel, (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. (Ezra 1:3)

Drawings

Jenske Visser -

Artist: Jenske Visser

Games to Memorize the Steps with Drawings

Steps Memory

Turn cards over and match illustrations with corresponding Bible verses.

Steps Memory

Supplies:
  • A6-sized steps with illustrations and Bible verses on the front. The back is blank.
  • A4-sized steps with illustrations and Bible verses on the front. The back has the title of the step.

Preparation:
  • Form teams in pairs or groups.
  • Place a set of A6 steps with their backs up in random order on a table or on the floor. This forms the "Memory" part of the game.

Task:
  • Let the children play in teams or pairs against each other.
  • Players take turns flipping two cards from the "Memory" section, trying to find a matching set of an A4 card and an A6 card.
  • If a player finds a matching set, they show both cards to the group and identify the Bible verse and illustration.
  • For an extra point, they can also try to guess the corresponding title of the step to be learned.
  • If the cards do not form a set, they are flipped back with the back facing up, and the next player takes a turn.
  • The game continues until all matching sets are found.
  • The team or player with the most correct sets and titles wins the game.
Searching Steps

Hide cards with Bible verses and illustrations for children to find.

Searching Steps

Supplies:
  • A6-sized steps with illustrations and Bible verses on the front. The back is blank.

Task:
  • Divide the children into teams.
  • Let one team hide the A6 cards, making sure to count how many cards they hide.
  • Allow the other team to search for the cards in the hidden area, optionally setting a time limit.
  • Once a team finds a card, they must identify the corresponding step.
  • The team earns 1 point for correctly naming the step and 1 point for finding the step.
  • If a team doesn't know the step, the other team can guess and, if correct, earn 1 point.
  • When all cards are found or time is up, switch roles, and the team with the most points at the end wins.
Guess the Step

Guess which step matches a displayed drawing.

Guess the Step

Supplies:
  • A4-sized steps with illustrations and Bible verses on the front. The back has the title of the step.
  • A6-sized steps with illustrations and Bible verses on the front. The back is blank.

Preparation:
  • Place the large steps on the ground with the title facing up.
  • Prepare small steps (A6 size) that correspond to the large steps.

Task:
  • Have a child take turns showing a step, covering the Bible verse.
  • They must guess which title matches the displayed drawing. They earn a point if correct.
  • To make the game more challenging, children can also try to guess the corresponding Bible verse for an extra point.
  • The team with the most points wins.
Step Choice Challenge

Choose a drawing and provide hints, make a drawing, or use a 'forbidden word' to convey the step's meaning.

Steps Choice Challenge

Supplies:
  • Various steps printed with illustrations and Bible verses on the front. The back has the title of the step.

Preparation:
  • Form two teams.
  • Keep a stopwatch handy.

Task:
  • Give one small drawing to a child within a team so that no one can see the drawing.
  • The child receiving the drawing can choose how they want to convey the step to their team (you can also roll a die).
  • Acting: They can act out the step by making movements.
  • Drawing: They can try to draw the step without using words.
  • Forbidden Word: They can describe the step without using specific keywords from the step's title.
  • The team has 30 seconds to guess the step and name the corresponding title.
  • If the team manages to guess both the drawing and the step within 15 seconds, they earn 3 points.
  • If the team manages to guess both the drawing and the step between 15 and 30 seconds, they earn 2 points.
  • If the team can't guess the step within 30 seconds, the other team has the chance to guess and earn points.
  • The other team can try to guess the title of the step, but they can't see the drawing.
Step Theater

Act out a short story or play to convey the meaning of each step.

Steps Theater

Preparation:
  • Divide the children into pairs and give each pair a step (or show it via the website).

Task:
  • Have each pair come up with a short mini-story or play that depicts the meaning of the step.
  • The children in the pair can divide the roles and try to convey the message of the step in a creative and understandable way.
  • After the pairs have prepared their play, they present it to the rest of the children in the group.
  • After watching the play, the other children must guess which step is being portrayed.
  • The team that correctly guesses the step earns points.