LESSON OVERVIEW FOR ADULTS
In Nehemiah 4:1–23, we find God’s people hard at work rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem. Even when enemies mocked and threatened them, the people kept building. Nehemiah encouraged them to pray and trust in God. With tools in one hand and swords in the other, they stayed alert and never stopped working. This passage reminds us that when we do God’s work, we may face opposition, but we are never alone.
In the face of difficulty, the people had “a mind to work” because their work honored the Lord. This shows children that doing the right thing, even when it’s hard, is important to God. Preschoolers can begin to understand that God is pleased when we obey Him and do our best, not to impress others, but because we love Him.
OPENING ACTIVITY 10:15–10:30 | Paint the Wall
Items Needed:
- Butcher paper
- Washable paint
- Paintbrushes
- Masking Tape
Tape butcher paper to a wall and let children “paint bricks” to form a pretend wall. Discuss how building a wall can be hard work, but it pleased God.
MEMORY VERSE GAME 10:30–10:40 | Pass the Lincoln Logg
Items Needed
- Memory Verse Poster
- Lincoln Logs
- Music
Pass a Lincoln Log around the circle while music plays. When the music stops, have a child recite the memory verse. Then they place their Lincoln Log into building something. Repeat until each child has gone at least once or until you’ve built a small wall.
SONG 10:40–10:50
5. BIBLE STORY 10:50–11:00
Where is this found in the Bible? Nehemiah
Is this in the Old Testament or New Testament? Old Testament
Telling the Story:
A long time ago, God’s people were working hard to fix a broken wall around their city. The wall was very big and tall, and it needed lots of work. A man named Nehemiah helped lead the people. Some people tried to stop the builders, but they kept working because they wanted to please God. They used tools in one hand and kept watch with the other. God helped them, and they finished the wall together.
Object Lesson:
Show a brick or block and a toy tool. Ask: “Is it easy or hard to build something big?” (Let kids answer.) Then say, “Just like building this takes time and strength, obeying God takes hard work too—but He helps us!”
Theological Questions:
- Who helped the people work together? (God did.)
- Why did the people keep working even when it was hard? (They wanted to please God.)
Life Application Questions:
- Can you help at home to show love to God? (Yes!)
- What can you build with your hands that helps others? (Blocks, cleaning, art.)
Closing Prayer:
Dear God, help me work hard with joy. Let everything I do bring You praise. Amen.
BIBLE CRAFT 11:00–11:15 | Work for God “Hard Hat”
Items Needed
- Hardhat Template (Printed on Cardstock)
- Double Sided Tape (or Stapler)
- Crayons
Have kids color their hardhat template and then assemble it to fit their head. Remind them that everything we do is for the glory of God and that we all work for Him.
SCRIPTURE REFERENCE | Nehemiah 4:1–23 (KJV)
But it came to pass, that when Sanballat heard that we builded the wall, he was wroth, and took great indignation, and mocked the Jews.
2 And he spake before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, What do these feeble Jews? will they fortify themselves? will they sacrifice? will they make an end in a day? will they revive the stones out of the heaps of the rubbish which are burned?
3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was by him, and he said, Even that which they build, if a fox go up, he shall even break down their stone wall.
4 Hear, O our God; for we are despised: and turn their reproach upon their own head, and give them for a prey in the land of captivity:
5 And cover not their iniquity, and let not their sin be blotted out from before thee: for they have provoked thee to anger before the builders.
6 So built we the wall; and all the wall was joined together unto the half thereof: for the people had a mind to work.
7 But it came to pass, that when Sanballat, and Tobiah, and the Arabians, and the Ammonites, and the Ashdodites, heard that the walls of Jerusalem were made up, and that the breaches began to be stopped, then they were very wroth,
8 And conspired all of them together to come and to fight against Jerusalem, and to hinder it.
9 Nevertheless we made our prayer unto our God, and set a watch against them day and night, because of them.
10 And Judah said, The strength of the bearers of burdens is decayed, and there is much rubbish; so that we are not able to build the wall.
11 And our adversaries said, They shall not know, neither see, till we come in the midst among them, and slay them, and cause the work to cease.
12 And it came to pass, that when the Jews which dwelt by them came, they said unto us ten times, From all places whence ye shall return unto us they will be upon you.
13 Therefore set I in the lower places behind the wall, and on the higher places, I even set the people after their families with their swords, their spears, and their bows.
14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.
15 And it came to pass, when our enemies heard that it was known unto us, and God had brought their counsel to nought, that we returned all of us to the wall, every one unto his work.
16 And it came to pass from that time forth, that the half of my servants wrought in the work, and the other half of them held both the spears, the shields, and the bows, and the habergeons; and the rulers were behind all the house of Judah.
17 They which builded on the wall, and they that bare burdens, with those that laded, every one with one of his hands wrought in the work, and with the other hand held a weapon.
18 For the builders, every one had his sword girded by his side, and so builded. And he that sounded the trumpet was by me.
19 And I said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, The work is great and large, and we are separated upon the wall, one far from another.
20 In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet, resort ye thither unto us: our God shall fight for us.
21 So we laboured in the work: and half of them held the spears from the rising of the morning till the stars appeared.
22 Likewise at the same time said I unto the people, Let every one with his servant lodge within Jerusalem, that in the night they may be a guard to us, and labour on the day.
23 So neither I, nor my brethren, nor my servants, nor the men of the guard which followed me, none of us put off our clothes, saving that every one put them off for washing.
PARENT TAKE HOME SHEET
Today’s Key Takeaway: Work for God
What I Learned Today:
We learned how Nehemiah and God’s people built a wall to protect their city. Even when others tried to stop them, they trusted God and kept working. We can also work with joy when we do things for God.
Questions to Ask Me:
Theological:
- Who helped the people build the wall? (God)
- What book of the Bible was our story from? (Nehemiah)
- Who was the leader of the builders? (Nehemiah)
- Why were some people angry about the wall? (They didn’t want God’s people to succeed)
- Who kept the people safe? (God)
Life Application:
- Can I help clean up at home to show love for God? (Yes)
- What’s something I can build for fun? (Blocks, crafts)
- How can I work with friends as a team? (Share, take turns)
- What do I say when work feels hard? (Ask God for help)
- How do I show God I love Him? (Obey, help, pray)