📖

Cyrus Says Go Home

Return and Rebuild

Day 81of 180
Week 17of 36
25Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand how God used King Cyrus to fulfill His promise of return

2

Identify God's sovereignty in historical events

3

Develop appreciation for God's faithfulness to His people

📖 Scripture Connection

Ezra 1:1

“Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of Yahweh by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, Yahweh stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, so that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying:”

— Ezra 1:1 (WEB)

Demonstrates God's direct intervention in human history

📦 Materials Needed

  • Bible (World English Bible)
  • World map
  • Colored paper
  • Scissors
  • BibleMouse Resource Guide
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (3 min)

BibleMouse adventure begins! Let's discover how God brought His people home after years away.

💭 Review Question: What do you remember about why God's people were sent away from their home?
2Teaching (8 min)

Today we'll explore an amazing moment in God's rescue plan - how He used a Persian king to bring His people back to Jerusalem.

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • God promised the people would return
  • God moved the heart of King Cyrus
  • The king gave permission to rebuild the temple
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How do you think the Jewish people felt hearing they could go home?
  • What does this story tell us about God's promises?
3Activity: Royal Decree Challenge (10 min)
decree study

Create your own 'royal decree' showing how God works through leaders

📝 Instructions:
  1. Fold a piece of paper like an official scroll
  2. Draw a map showing the journey from Persia to Jerusalem
  3. Write a pretend decree allowing people to return home
  4. Decorate with symbols of hope and restoration
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Use pre-drawn map template

Challenge: Include historical details from Ezra 1

4Closing (3 min)

Recap how God always keeps His promises

📝 Review Questions:
  • Who helped the people return?
  • What did God do to make this happen?
🙏 Prayer:

Thank God for always being faithful and keeping His promises

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll see how the people started rebuilding the temple

💎 Memory Verse

Nehemiah 8:10

“Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

— Nehemiah 8:10 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Memory Verse Dance: Create hand motions for each key phrase, moving around the room to help memorize

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

This lesson shows God's sovereignty - He can use anyone, even a pagan king, to accomplish His plans

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Use the world map to show the distance traveled
  • Encourage children to imagine being away from home for 70 years
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to understand long periods of time

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Signs of understanding God's faithfulness and plan

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Research Persian history in the BibleMouse Resource Guide
  • Create a timeline of the exile and return

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

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