YEA Lesson Library
A Time to Celebrate
About This Lesson
This lesson draws the thread of the celebration of the Days of Unleavened Bread from the Exodus through Ezra (and the dedication of the Temple) to today. This lesson is taught with a puppet.
Scriptures
Exodus 12:15-17
Leviticus 23:5-14
Numbers 28:17-18, 25
Numbers 33:3
Ezra 1 - 6
Ezra 6:22
John 6:35
1 Corinthians 5:7-8
Words to Know
DEDICATED - to set apart for a special use
SLAVERY - being the legal property of another person and forced to obey them
UNLEAVENED- without the ingredient which makes it rise and get fluffy
CELEBRATE- to have great joy as you worship God on this holy day
The Lesson
The car was all packed. The moving van could not hold one more thing, but that was okay. Everything was finally out of the house. Now it was time to go. Dad told everyone to get into the car. Jane and her brother and sister climbed into the car and buckled their seatbelts.Jane did not care where she sat. She just wanted to watch the house until it was out of sight. She never wanted to forget that house and what it looked like.
There was a time like that for God's people. They had been so bad that God sent their enemies against them. God's people lost the battle. But that was not a surprise. After all, they were not worshiping God. He was not protecting them from their enemies. So their enemies took them as slaves. God's people must have wondered if they would ever see Jerusalem again. They must have been like Jane, looking back for as long as they could. They wanted to always remember the land that God had given to them.
Many, many years later, King Cyrus of Persia told the people that the LORD, the God of heaven, had told him to build a temple for God at Jerusalem. So King Cyrus was ready to let the Jewish people go home—whoever wanted to go. The people who wanted to go went back to their towns. They went back to the place that God had given to them. Once they were settled, the first thing they did was to offer a sacrifice to God - even before they began to rebuild the Temple. They honored God first. They were trying hard to do what was right.
It was a huge struggle to finish building the Temple. tI took 20 years! But, finally, the people were ready to dedicate it to God. That happened at the beginning of the year. Then they were ready to celebrate the Passover and Days of Unleavened Bread.
The Passover was very special to them. As they sacrificed the Passover lamb, they would have thought about the Passover lamb killed in Egypt. They would have remembered how God saved His people from slavery in Egypt. Since they had been slaves in Babylon, Passover would have had very special meaning for them. God had saved them from being slaves too.
Then "for seven days they celebrated with joy the Feast of Unleavened Bread..." They were so joyful because God had changed the mind of the king so that he would help them to work on the Temple. They knew this was God's hand. They knew it was God who had changed the mind of the king. They knew what God had done for them.
As God's people celebrated the Days of Unleavened Bread, they remembered how God helped them so many different times.
They thought about God bringing them out of Egypt on the First Day of Unleavened Bread so many years ago. They remembered how God gave them their land. They remembered the victories God gave them over their enemies.
But neither God's people coming out of Egypt nor those rebuilding the second Temple would have known what you know about the Days of Unleavened Bread. You know, as they did, that God brought them out of slavery and gave them victory over their enemies. But you also know that slavery is a picture for sin. You know the battle you must fight is against sin. And the good news is that God gives you the victory against sin through Jesus Christ. You knowJesus is the only way to win that war.
You eat unleavened bread for seven days. The people coming out of Egypt ate unleavened bread because they couldn't wait for the yeast to make their bread rise before they baked it. The people rebuilding the Temple in Jerusalem ate unleavened bread because God told them to - so they would remember what happened as the people came out of Egypt. You eat unleavened bread for several reasons: One, God said to. Two, it reminds you that God brought His people out of slavery. Three, it reminds you that Jesus Christ gives you life. The unleavened bread is without leavening, just as Jesus Christ was without sin. He is the only way out of sin and the only way to salvation.
When Jane looked back at her house, she wanted to remember it always. But the mind does not work that way. When Jane went back many years later, the house looked much smaller. It did not look as she remembered. You cannot trust your mind to remember things. It doesn't take long to forget a little detail. And another detail. And several more. Pretty soon, you don't remember exactly what you wanted to.
We celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread each year to remember that Jesus gave His life for our sins and He is the Bread of Life. And that's something we don't ever want to forget.
Student Prayer
Dear Father,
Thank you for giving your Son, Jesus Christ, to die for our sins. He is the Bread of Life and help me to never forget this.
In Jesus’ name I pray.
Amen.
Daily Devotions
Sunday - Exodus 12:15
Monday - Exodus 12:16-17
Tuesday - Leviticus 23:6, 7
Wednesday - Numbers 28:17, 18
Thursday - Numbers 28:25
Friday - John 6:35
Saturday - 1Corinthians 5:7, 8
Objectives
At the end of this lesson, students will be able to: .
1. Tell what happened when the exiles returned to Jerusalem (Ezra).
2. Explain why the people celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread with joy.
3. Say what the Feast of Unleavened Bread reminds us of --historically and spiritually.
4. State that it is very important to celebrate each year so that we will remember.
Topics & Themes
Bread of Life
Cyrus
Days of Unleavened Bread
Exiles
Holy Days, Unleavened Bread
Honor God
Jerusalem
Jesus, Without Sin
Lamb
Passover
Remember
Sin
Slaves
Temple
Unleavened Bread
Materials Needed
Bible, YEA Students and Teacher's books, attendance and memory verse charts, stars, songbook, CD and player, building blocks or dominoes, puppet, puppet party hat, mirror, assorted colors of 1 x 17construction paper, stapler, scissors, decorating items: stickers, stamps, foam cut-outs, glitter glue
Preparation
Children love puppets. Puppetry is very effective because it captures their imaginations, especially if the puppet does or says something absurd or silly. Get used to the feel and the movements on your hand and practice dialog with the puppet. The more comfortable you feel, the more enjoyment the children will have.
Set-up for the puppet in this lesson is an unorganized pile of building blocks. Practice talking as if you had a block in your mouth, a spitting sound, and perhaps a different voice for the puppet. Give your puppet a name prior to class and construct a party hat for the puppet.
Don't forget to start each lesson with prayer, asking God's blessing on what we're learning, that we'll speak His words, and that the students will hear what we have to say.
How to Teach This Lesson
(Note: Sticking word for word with the script can cause the lesson to be stilted.)
Beginning: After opening with prayer, tell students you've brought a special friend to class for them to meet. Pretend to look around. The puppet will be using blocks to build. Ask the puppet what he's doing. The puppet will try to speak with a block in his mouth. He'll have to spit it out to be intelligible.
Puppet: I'm building.
Teacher: I can see that. What are you building?
Puppet: I wanted to build a model of the Temple. You know, in the time of Ezra, the Temple was rebuilt in Jerusalem.
Teacher: Yes, I know. But do you know how long it took to rebuild the Temple?
Puppet: About 20 days. (Be very convincing, as if you know this is the right answer.)
Teacher: What do you think (talking to students)? Did it take only 20 days? (Wait for answers.) It actually took 20 years.
Puppet: (Fall over as if totally exhausted.) I’m never going to be able to work that long!
Teacher: Why did you want to build a model of the Temple anyway?
Puppet: Well, you know, when the people finally got the Temple done, they dedicated it.
Teacher: Yes, I know that. But do you know what "dedicated" means?
Puppet: (Say this in a rush, even if someone starts to interrupt.) It means they had a big party! They had lots of cake and ice cream and presents. I love ice cream and presents, especially when they are for me and I love . . . what?
Teacher: Do you really think that’s what a dedication is?
Puppet: Yep, party time! (Put party hat on puppet.)
Teacher: Does anyone have a different idea of what a dedication is? (Allow kids to answer. Have the puppet look in mirror to see his party hat. Build on the students' answers.) A dedication, in this case, is a ceremony to tell God that this building is for Him, for serving Him, for His glory.
Puppet: Oh. (Despondent, takes off party hat.)
Teacher: Do you know when the dedication of the second Temple was? At the very beginning of the year. When they finished celebrating the completion of the Temple, they got to celebrate the Passover and Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Puppet: Celebrate? (Put party hat back on.)
Teacher: Yes, celebrate. The Feast of Unleavened Bread reminds us all of what God has done for us. Do you remember what happened in Egypt?
Puppet:You mean when the king made all the people work hard and killed their baby boys?
Teacher: Yes. God rescued them from that. God brought His people out of Egypt after the Passover. They left Ramses on the First Day of Unleavened Bread (Numbers 33:3).
Puppet: Hey! The people rebuilding the Temple had also been slaves, but in Babylon.
Teacher: Right. God rescued them too, didn't He?
Puppet: I don’t remember ten plagues in Babylon. Were there ten plaques in Babylon as there were in Egypt?
Teacher: What do you think, children? (Wait for answers.) No, there weren’t ten plaques in Babylon. God had the king let the people go back to the land He had given them. Many people didn't want the Jewish people to rebuild the Temple. Eventually, the king helped them, and they celebrated the Feast of Unleavened Bread with great joy because the king helped them finally get the Temple finished.
Puppet: Yep. (Go back to building.) That's why I'm building a model of the Temple.
Teacher: Why do we celebrate the Feast of Unleavened Bread?
Puppet: To party with presents, cake, and ice cream!
Teacher: No. This celebration isn't about you. Because it's the Feast of Unleavened Bread, there wouldn't be cake. What do you think, children? (Wait for answers. Talk about God's command,
how the Israelites didn't have time to let bread rise, and how it symbolizes being without sin.)
Puppet: I know who was without sin - Jesus!
Teacher: That's right. And the unleavened bread we eat reminds us that Jesus saves us from our sins and gives us eternal life.
Puppet: That's something to celebrate! (Put party hat back on.)
Review Questions
These are woven into the puppet/ teacher dialogue.
Teacher-Directed Activity
Party Hat: Wrap an 11" × 17" sheet of construction paper into a cone and staple the edge at the appropriate size for students. Cut off excess, if necessary. Help each student fold the cone flat to decorate with stickers, stamps, foam cut-outs, etc.
REACH Activity
1. Concentration Game. Continue constructing a concentration game of God’s Holy Days. For this lesson, create four cards: Days of Unleavened Bread, Ezra, building the Temple, Cyrus. Plan to add four more cards to go with the next lesson.
2. Timeline. Using a Bible resource (NIV Archaeological Study Bible; Reproducible Maps, Charts, Timelines, and Illustrations, Regal Publishing; Bible Timeline Chart), research the probable dates for 1) the Exodus; 2) Josiah’s reign; 3) the return of the captives from Babylon, and 4) the completion of the Temple in Jerusalem under Ezra. Then create a timeline using what you have discovered.
3. Journal Entry. Pretend you were a child living in the days of Ezra. What would you have thought about returning to Jerusalem from Babylon, the edict by King Cyrus, the rebuilding of the Temple, the conflict with the people trying to prevent the rebuilding of the wall and the Temple, etc? Read Ezra 1 - 6 to gain a Biblical perspective, but also use the NIV Archaeological Study Bible or other source to understand what was happening. Then write a journal entry for the Days of Unleavened Bread that were celebrated that year (Ezra 6).
4. Cooking. Help your mom (or dad) make unleavened bread to eat each day this week.
5. Menu Planning. With your family, come up with an unleavened menu for all week long. Be sure to write out a grocery list. Help make special meals on the Holy Days.
6. Sword Drill. Do a sword drill with the daily devotionals. Depending on how many children you are involved, you can either have them compete against each other to see who can get to the scripture first or you can have a child time himself (or herself) and try to better his time each successive scripture.
7. Create a mosaic. Collect the following materials: lightweight cardboard measuring approximately 10 x 10-inches, various items for mosaic (pasta, beans, pebbles, buttons, beads, etc), craft glue, tempera paint. Paint your cardboard first so that you have a nice background for the mosaic. Allow it to dry. While it’s drying, design a mosaic. It might be a word like “Celebrate” or “Worship” or “Praise God.” Arrange your items on the cardboard, gluing each piece down as you go. Don’t overdo the glue. It could take several hours, so don’t be afraid to work on it a little bit each day. Once your project is finished, display it where everyone can see it.
8. What Did You Learn? In your Bible notebook, write two things you learned from the YEA lesson this week.
9. Explain Your Observance. How would you explain to your friend why you celebrate the Days of Unleavened Bread every year? Do you know how to respond to her questions? Role play with your mom or dad tonight after supper. Then write down some ideas of things you can say in your Bible notebook so that you will remember them.
10. Understanding the Days of Unleavened Bread. Write the following questions in your Bible notebook. Then answer them. What is sin? Who sins? Do you sin? What are the consequences of sin? (Romans 6:23) Did God provide a way to pay the penalty for your sins? What is the way God provided to pay for the sins of the whole world? What does this have to do with the Days of Unleavened Bread?
11. Sing: From the CEM Hymnal: “Jesus Paid It All” on page 93, “He Is Able to Deliver Thee” on page 72, and “Amazing Grace” on page 106;
From Kids Classics Collection, “Oh, How I Love Jesus” on page 66;
From The Group Songbook, “El Shaddai” on page 63, “In Moments Like These” on page 2, “More Precious Than Silver” on page 25.
12. Essay. Write an essay in your Bible notebook about how Jesus is more precious than silver to you. Why is this true? What changes will you make in your life to show that it is true? Say a prayer that God will show you more and more how precious Jesus is to you.
13. Count. The Wave Sheaf offering always occurs during the Days of Unleavened Bread. Do at least one of the following: Make a calendar to count 50 days to Pentecost; write in a journal for the next 50 days; or make a paper chain. Be sure to include your family in however you decide to count the days (Leviticus 23:9-16).
14. Map Work. Using a Bible resource, find a map of Babylon and Jerusalem. How far did the returning exiles have to travel? Recreate the map in your Bible notebook. Then, in your Bible notebook, write your thoughts about why returning to Jerusalem was so important to Ezra and Nehemiah and the Jewish people. Share these thoughts with your family and discuss.
15. Reflection Essay. At the end of the Days of Unleavened Bread, write a reflection of the week in your Bible notebook. File it under your “holy days” section. Answer questions like: What did you do to make the week special this year? What would you like to do again? What would you like to do next year to make the week special? Do you think God was pleased with your celebration? Why or why not? Did you goof up and eat any leavened products this week? Did you remember to eat unleavened bread every day? Did anyone ask you why you were celebrating the Days of Unleavened Bread or why you were eating unleavened bread? What did you tell them? What did you learn (from the sabbath school lessons or from the sermons) that you didn’t know before? What was your favorite part of the week?
16. Board Game. Create a Who’s Who Game based on the holy day lessons in this book. Make a board game. Set up rules like: Draw a person card. Tell who the person is and which lesson and holy day he is associated with. (You will have to keep a small notebook of notes for each person so you can check to see if the answer is correct or not.) If you are correct, roll the dice and advance. If you are incorrect, roll the dice and go that many places backwards. From Lesson One: King Josiah; Lesson Two: Cyrus and Ezra. Add people to the game for each lesson.
17. Planning Ahead. Find a calendar for next year. Figure out when the Spring Holy Days will be. Write a note on the calendar a month prior to Passover to implement some of the things you want to be sure you do next year to celebrate God’s holy days. Include your family in the conversation about what would be a good idea to do. Be sure to add which parts of the house you will take responsibility for cleaning.
Song
"His Banner Over Me Is Love" is on page 36 of Kids Classics Collection.
Closing Prayer
Lead the children in thanking God for giving us Jesus, the Unleavened Bread, so that we may live. Thank Him for the celebration of the Feast of Unleavened Bread
Printable Pages
