OK to copy.

Lessons for the Leader

1a Application Activities Format: Follow the numbers with arrows for a 30-minute, large group plus 20-minute Application Activities format.

1 Follow all the numbers for a 45- to 60-minute large

group only format.

What do these symbols mean?

Session at a Glance

Nehemiah PrayedBible Passage: Nehemiah 1:1-4; 2:1-8,

17-18; 3; 6:15-16

Key Bible Verse: Matthew 6:6

Life ApplicationI can pray to God.

Levels of Biblical Learning (Self)I can show love for God by obeying Him. I can say no to what I know is wrong.

When you hear bad news, do you want to help? Many disaster relief teams go, stay, and help when disasters occur today. Imagine a great disaster happening and one person choosing to go repair the damages. What could one man do? •Read Nehemiah 1:1-4. What happened? What

did Nehemiah do? When you hear bad news, do you immediately pray and fast?

•Read Nehemiah 2:1-8. Imagine the many emotions Nehemiah battled while trying to do his work. The king recognized something was different or wrong. Do you sense when those around you are battling difficult emotions or facing tough situations? What did Nehemiah do before responding to the king? Do you pray before responding or reacting? What did the king do? Imagine your employer giving you time away from work, plus the funds to accomplish the things needed while away. For many, this would be unheard of today. With God, all things are possible.

•Read Nehemiah 2:17-18. Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem and spoke to the people. What did the people do? How do you react when trials come your way?

•Read Nehemiah 3. Look at how much was repaired and rebuilt. Notice some groups helped and some did not. Think back to a situation where disaster relief teams helped. Much was accomplished because people worked together. Most of the people in Jerusalem worked together.

•Read Nehemiah 6:15-16. How long did it take to rebuild the city? Notice the last comment. How was this great task accomplished? Only through God can we do great things. Pray to God every day for every decision.

Introduction to Worship (6 to 8 minutes)

Greet Children Play "Whisper a Message"

Worship (30 minutes/45 minutes)

Welcome Children and PraySing "I Can Clap"Sing "Make My Choice"Use Worship GuidesSing "What You Say"Find ItTell the Bible StoryPresent Offering and PrayReview the Bible StoryLearn the Bible VerseMake Life ApplicationPlay a GameTransition

Application Activities (20 minutes)

Wrap-Up (10 minutes)

Week of June 17, 2012

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Introduction to Worship

Nehemiah Prayed

1aGreet Children

Pull It TogetherOffering container

•Show children where to place their offerings.

2aPlay "Whisper a Message"

Teacher TipGive each leader a list of things to whisper.

•Group kids in lines of up to six children each.•Assign a leader to stand at the front of each line.•Whisper to the first child in each line something

God wants us to do, such as: "God wants us to obey" or "God wants us to pray."

•Direct each child to whisper the message to the next child in line. Once the message is whispered to the last child in line, that child should move to the front of the line and tell the message to the leader.

•Repeat process several times with new sayings.•Conclude: "God wants us to talk to Him, just

as we talk to one another. We will learn about a leader who prayed (or talked) to God."

Worship 3aWelcome Children and Pray (2 minutes)•Say: "I'm so glad to see each of you. Did you

know God wants people to pray? We can pray anytime, anywhere. Let's pray now."

•Pray.

4aSing "I Can Clap" (DVD, 2 minutes)

5aSing "Make My Choice" (DVD, 2 minutes)

6aUse Worship Guides (7 minutes)

Pull It TogetherWorship Guides, crayons

•Distribute Worship Guides and crayons.•Comment: "We are talking and learning about

prayer. We can pray to God. Let's look at places we can pray."

•Lead children to complete the activities.•Conclude: "We can talk to God anywhere,

anytime, about anything!"

7 Sing "What You Say" (DVD, 2 minutes)

8 Find It (3 minutes)

Pull It TogetherPrint "Nehemiah" (CD).

•Display and read aloud title. •Lead kids to say the title several times.•Say: "Our Bible story comes from the Book

of Nehemiah. Open your Bible to the middle, which should be the Book of Psalms [demonstrate]. Turn back two books. This means turn the pages toward the front of your Bible until you get to the Book of Nehemiah. Find Nehemiah chapter 1."

•Enlist leaders to assist children.

9aTell the Bible Story (7 minutes)

Pull It TogetherScissors, brick-type building blocks (cardboard, large wooden, etc.), tape•Print "Nehemiah Story" (CD).•Cut apart the story pieces and tape to individual

blocks.•Place the blocks around the room, including extra

blocks without story parts.

Teacher Tips•Provide at least 1 block for each child.•Tape story pieces to a wall, poster board, or other

sturdy surface.

•Open your Bible to Nehemiah.•Challenge each child to find a block and bring

it to the story area. •Stack block 1 and read aloud the text.•Continue to stack blocks 2–8, reading aloud the

text.

Nehemiah PrayedBased on Nehemiah 1:1-4;

2:1-8,17-18; 3; 6:15-16

[1] Nehemiah (NEE huh MIGH uh) lived in the city of Susa (SOO suh), but the city of Jerusalem was very special to him. His family was from Jerusalem.

[2] Some men from Jerusalem came to visit Nehemiah. He asked the men about the city. When the visitors said the people were in trouble, Nehemiah was sad. The men said the walls of the city were torn down and the gates were burned.

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[3] Nehemiah sat down and cried. For many days he was sad and did not eat. He prayed to God.

[4] Nehemiah's job was to serve the king. Nehemiah had never had a sad face when he was around the king. Nehemiah was so sad about Jerusalem that the king noticed. The king asked Nehemiah why he was so sad.

[5] Nehemiah was afraid the king might be angry. But he explained how Jerusalem was in trouble because the gates were burned and the walls torn down. The king asked Nehemiah what he wanted.

[6] Nehemiah prayed before answering the king. Then, Nehemiah said he wanted to return to Jerusalem to help rebuild the city.

[7] The king asked questions. Then he and Nehemiah talked about what would be needed. When Nehemiah left, he had two letters from the king. One letter gave Nehemiah safe travel. The other letter gave him wood from the king's forest. God answered Nehemiah's prayers!

[8] Nehemiah went to Jerusalem. He and the people worked together to rebuild the walls and gates. The people took 52 days to rebuild the wall. Everyone knew God answered Nehemiah's prayers.

•Invite children to stack the remaining blocks on either side of the wall you built.

•Thank everyone for working together to build the wall.

10aPresent Offering and Pray (2 minutes)

11aReview the Bible Story (5 minutes)

Pull It TogetherScissors, marker, small bag or container•Print "Nehemiah Review" (CD).•Cut apart "Nehemiah Review" and print on the

backs of the papers Pray God (1 letter per paper). Print to on the back of the last paper.

•Invite kids to select papers from the bag for you to read aloud.

•Read the questions, encouraging kids to answer.•Say: "Nehemiah prayed to God. Nehemiah

prayed when he was sad, before making choices, when he was happy, and as he worked."

•Turn papers over and arrange to say Pray to God.

•Say: "We learned we can pray to God."

12 Learn the Bible Verse (4 minutes)

Pull It TogetherPaper, marker•Print Matthew 6:6 from your preferred translation.

Teacher TipPrint and use "Matthew 6:6 Paraphrase" (CD).

•Display and read aloud the Bible verse.•Lead the children to say the verse together.•Repeat the verse in different voices: whispering,

sad, happy, and loud.

13aMake Life Application (3 minutes)•Ask: "What does it mean to pray to God?"•Encourage responses.•Say: "These are great answers. Praying is like

talking and listening to God. We talk to God when we pray. We also need to listen for God to answer. God doesn't talk to us like I am talking to you. He gives us ideas or answers in our thoughts. Sometimes answers to our prayers come from other people."

14 Play a Game (6 minutes)

Pull It TogetherPaper, marker

•Explain: "In this game, the object is to be the last person standing. I'll call on volunteers to fill in the blank: 'I can pray or talk to God about or for _____.' You will fill in the blank with things like 'my friends,' 'my day,' 'my parents,' and so on. I'll write what you say on the paper. We cannot repeat our answers. If one person says he can pray for his mom, no one else can say 'mom' or 'mother.' When someone repeats an answer already given, he must sit down. Think of someone or something you can pray to God about. Everyone stand. I'll start calling on volunteers to answer."

•Print the responses as stated.•Instruct kids who repeat responses to sit down.•Play until one person is standing.•Turn paper over and play again as time permits.

15aGo to Application Activities or Wrap-Up

Week of June 17, 2012Page 3 of 21

Wrap-Up(Large Group Only Format)

Wrap-Up(Application Activities Format)

Week of June 17, 2012 Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Leader Guide© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

16a Sing "I Can Do the Right Thing" (DVD, 2 minutes)

17aReview Application Activities (2 minutes)•Call on several children to tell what they did in

their Application Activities. d Arts and Crafts—Make Tissue Paper Words d Dramatic Play—Make Travel Documents d Games—Play Anytime, Anywhere Game d Exploration and Discovery—Build Walls, Gates, and Buildings

•Apply: "Our activities helped us know we can pray to God."

18aReview the Bible Story (3 minutes)

Pull It TogetherPrint "Teaching Picture 3 Nehemiah" (CD).

•Display the teaching picture.•Ask: "What do you see the people doing in this

picture? (sweeping, carrying, building a wall) Why do you think the people were rebuilding the wall? (to protect their city; repair wall) Who is the leader of the people in the picture? (Nehemiah) How did Nehemiah know what to do?" (He prayed to God and God helped him know what to do.)

19aHopscotch (5 minutes)

Pull It TogetherScissors, tape•Print "Hopscotch" (CD) and cut apart.•Tape a grid to the floor [see Pull It Together box in

previous column].•Place each word from "Hopscotch" in a box.

•Ask: "What did we learn today?" •Encourage responses.•State: "We learned we can pray to God. I put

those words in our hopscotch grid. Let's take turns hopping and saying the words."

•Read aloud words, stepping in each box as you say the words.

•Lead kids to hop and say words.

20aDismiss Children to Their Parents

16 Sing "I Can Do the Right Thing" (DVD, 2 minutes)

17 Review the Bible Story (3 minutes)

Pull It TogetherPrint "Teaching Picture 3 Nehemiah" (CD).

•Display the teaching picture.•Ask: "What do you see the people doing in this

picture? (sweeping, carrying, building a wall) Why do you think the people were rebuilding the wall? (to protect their city; repair wall) Who is the leader of the people in the picture? (Nehemiah) How did Nehemiah know what to do?" (He prayed to God and God helped him know what to do.)

18 Hopscotch (5 minutes)

Pull It TogetherScissors, tape•Print "Hopscotch" (CD) and cut apart.•Tape a grid to the floor: 3 single boxes stacked on

top of each other, 2 side-by-side boxes centered along the top of the last single box, then another single box, 2 more centered side-by-side boxes, and another single box on top (9 total boxes).

•Tape each word from "Hopscotch" in a box.

•Ask: "What did we learn today?" •Encourage responses.•State: "We learned we can pray to God. I put

those words in our hopscotch grid. Let's take turns hopping and saying the words in the grid."

•Read aloud words, stepping in each box as you say the words.

•Lead kids to hop and say words.

19 Dismiss Children to Their Parents

* Giant Game Floor Mat (001114564) may be ordered through LifeWay Christian Resources Customer Service Center at 1.800.458.2772 or online at www.lifeway.com.

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Application Activities Select from the following choices. Each choice is designed for 20 minutes of small group time.

Worship Through Dramatic PlayMake Travel Documents•Inform: "Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem to repair the city. [Display map.]

He needed travel documents, or papers to go to another land. The king gave him the travel documents. When we travel to different countries today, we must get passports or visas. A person fills out a paper with his name, address, and other information, pays money, and requests a visa. Let's make travel documents so we can pretend to travel to Jerusalem and other lands."

•Distribute supplies and place the map where kids can see it.•Instruct: "Fold your blue papers in half [pause]. Fold your white papers in

half [pause]. Put the paper with the boxes as your top white paper. Put the white papers inside the blue paper. We'll take turns stapling the folded edges. While we wait, draw a picture of yourself on the first white page."

•Assist kids with folding and stapling.•Weigh and measure the children, then help them fill in the boxes.•Talk about the Bible story as kids work.•Invite kids to draw any of the following on the other pages: map of

Jerusalem, the people working, and so on.•Say: "Let's pretend to travel to different places. Walk to each station and

receive your stamp for going to a new land."•Allow time for kids to get their travel documents stamped.•State the Bible verse (Matthew 6:6).•Conclude: "Nehemiah prayed to God about everything. We can pray to

God. Use your travel documents to tell someone the story of Nehemiah."•Pray.

Week of June 17, 2012

Worship Through Arts and CraftsMake Tissue Paper Words•Say: "Nehemiah prayed for Jerusalem. He prayed before talking to the

king. We can pray to God also. How do you spell the word pray?"•Invite responses.•Display pray paper.•Continue: "P, r, a, y spells pray. I'll give each of you one of these papers.

Cut pieces of tissue paper and glue them to the letters. Cover the letters with the tissue paper pieces."

•Distribute paper, scissors, glue sticks, tissue paper, and markers.•Assist children with cutting and gluing.•Talk about the Bible story as children work.•Suggest kids draw pictures of things for which they can pray.•State the Bible verse (Matthew 6:6). •Explain: "When we pray, we talk to God. Nehemiah prayed about

everything. We can pray anywhere, anytime, about anything."•Lead children to clean area, then pray.

Pull It TogetherConstruction paper, different colors of tissue paper, glue sticks, marker, scissors•Print 1 copy per child

of "Pray" (CD).

Teacher Tips•Cut tissue paper into

small pieces.•Assist children with

spelling as needed.

Pull It TogetherBlue construction paper (1 per child), white paper (1 per child), stapler and staples, markers, stickers or rubber stamps and ink pad, scales, measuring tape, maps of Bible times land showing Jerusalem•Print 1 copy per child

of "Travel Document" (CD).

•Print "Map" (CD).•Set up a few stations,

placing different stickers or stamps at each one.

Teacher TipBe sensitive to children who may not want to be weighed or measured.

Page 5 of 21

OK to copy.Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition Leader Guide© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Worship Through Exploration and DiscoveryBuild Walls, Gates, and Buildings•Ask: "What did Nehemiah rebuild?"•Lead children to review the Bible story.•Assign each child a number: 1, 2, or 3. •Instruct all number groups to stand together.•Say: "Each group will work together to build walls, gates, and buildings."•Send each group to a different building area. •Take a close look at each group's work and allow children to talk about

their construction projects.•Commend the groups for their work. •Point out the tallest wall, the most creative building, and so on.•Lead kids to stack building materials together.•Ask: "Was the task of building easy or hard? Why?" •Encourage responses.•State the Bible verse (Matthew 6:6).•Comment: "Nehemiah knew God wanted him to rebuild the city walls.

Nehemiah did what God told him to do. He made the right decisions. Sometimes doing what God wants will not be easy, but we must do it anyway. We can pray to God."

•Pray.

Play Anytime, Anywhere Game•Distribute a prayer strip to each child. •Instruct: "Hold on to your prayer strips. We'll use them in our game. When

can we pray?"•Encourage responses.•Continue: "We can pray at all hours of the day. We'll take turns rolling

the number cube and moving that many pockets on the mat. The goal is to collect a game card I'll give you from each color and cross the Finish pocket [point]. Collect all color game cards from me before you cross the Finish pocket."

•Guide children as they play.•Give kids color game cards as they stand on the different color pockets.•Challenge each child to match the time on the game card to the

appropriate picture on his prayer strip.•Comment: "We can pray anytime, anywhere, and about anything."•Play again, encouraging children to move around only on the outer

pockets of the gameboard. •Call out a color for all kids to stand on.•State the Bible verse (Matthew 6:6).•Comment: "Nehemiah prayed about everything. When are the people on

your prayer strips praying?"•Review possible times on strips (morning, afternoon, evening, bedtime).•Say: "We can pray throughout the day. God always wants us to pray or talk

to Him anytime, anywhere, and about anything."•Pray.

Worship Through GamesPull It TogetherGiant Game Floor Mat*, scissors, construction paper (blue, red, green), marker, scrap paper•Print "Game Cards"

(CD), making enough copies for each child to have 1 of each color. Cut apart.

•Print "Number Cube" (CD), cut out, and assemble.

•Print "Prayer Strips" (CD) and cut apart. Print 1 strip per child.

•Print Start and Finish on separate papers (any color).

•Place Start paper in a pocket in the far left column.

•Put Finish paper in a pocket in the far right column.

•Fill in the remaining pockets with the 3 colors of paper.

•Place mat on the floor.

Teacher TipProvide tape loops for kids to stick their strips to their clothes.

Pull It TogetherVariety of materials to build a wall (cardboard tubes, craft sticks, wooden blocks, paper, tape, etc.)•Place materials in 3

areas of the room.

Page 6 of 21

Douglas Klauba Nehemiah Prayed© 2009 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in the USA. Nehemiah 1:1-4; 2:1-8,17-18; 3; 6:15-16

Page 7 of 21

Nehemiah 4Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

Nehe

miah

Page 8 of 21

Number Cube Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

11. Cut along the dotted lines.2. Fold on the solid lines.3. Fill with scrap paper.4. Tape closed.

one

2two

3three

4four

5five

6six

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Travel Document (June 17) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

____

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Prayer Strips (June 17) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

Page 11 of 21

Pray (June 17) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

PRAY

Page 12 of 21

Nehemiah Story (June 17) 1 Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

Nehemiah (NEE huh MIGH uh) lived in the city of Susa (SOO suh), but the city of Jerusalem was very

special to him. His family was from Jerusalem.

Some men from Jerusalem came to visit Nehemiah. He asked the men about the city. When the visitors said

the people were in trouble, Nehemiah was sad. The men said the walls of the city were torn down

and the gates were burned.

1

2

Page 13 of 21

Nehemiah Story (June 17) 2 Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

Nehemiah sat down and cried. For many days he was sad and did not eat. He prayed to God.

Nehemiah's job was to serve the king. Nehemiah had never had a sad face when he was around the king.

Nehemiah was so sad about Jerusalem that the king noticed. The king asked Nehemiah why he was so sad.

3

4

Page 14 of 21

Nehemiah Story (June 17) 3Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

Nehemiah was afraid the king might be angry. But he explained how Jerusalem was in

trouble because the gates were burned and the walls torn down. The king asked Nehemiah what he wanted.

Nehemiah prayed before answering the king. Then, Nehemiah said he wanted to return to Jerusalem

to help rebuild the city.

5

6

Page 15 of 21

Nehemiah Story (June 17) 4 Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

The king asked questions. Then he and Nehemiah talked about what would be needed. When Nehemiah left, he

had two letters from the king. One letter gave Nehemiah safe travel. The other letter gave him wood from the

king's forest. God answered Nehemiah's prayers!

Nehemiah went to Jerusalem. He and the people worked together to rebuild the walls and gates.

The people took 52 days to rebuild the wall. Everyone knew God answered Nehemiah's prayers.

7

8

Page 16 of 21

Nehemiah Review (June 17) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

What is the name of the man in our Bible story?

(Nehemiah)

What had happened to Jerusalem?

(walls torn down, gates burned)

What did Nehemiah do after hearing about Jerusalem?

(cried, prayed)

Who gave Nehemiah permission to go to Jerusalem?

(king)

What did the king give Nehemiah to take with him?

(letters: safe travel and wood from forest)

What did Nehemiah do when he went to Jerusalem?

(helped people rebuild city)

How many days did it take the people to rebuild the city?

(52)

What did Nehemiah do before doing anything?

(prayed)

Page 17 of 21

Matthew 6:6 Paraphrase (June 17) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

Pra

y to

G

od.

Mat

thew

6:6

Page 18 of 21

Map (June 17) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

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Nile River

Page 19 of 21

Hopscotch (June 17) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

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Page 20 of 21

Game Cards (June 17) Worship KidStyle Preschool Edition, Summer 2012© 2012 LifeWay Christian Resources of the Southern Baptist Convention. Printed in USA. OK to copy.

MorningMorning

NoonMorning

Noon

EveningNoon

EveningEvening

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