Minor Prophets -- Haggai

MINOR PROPHETS: HAGGAI

 

Objectives:

  1. Children should be able to identify Haggai as a prophet who spoke for God.
  2. Children should know that Haggai lived just before the time of Esther.
  3. Children should know that Haggai told the people to rebuild His temple.

 

Possible Lesson Plan:

  1. Open with prayer.

 

  1. Tell the story of Haggai: After living in Babylon for 70 years, God’s people were home! A group had returned to Jerusalem to rebuild God’s temple. They had started the work, but their neighbors didn’t want them to rebuild the temple, so they stopped building. The people made excuses. “Maybe it isn’t the right time to rebuild the temple,” they said. They thought that because the task was difficult, maybe God didn’t want them to do it. Instead, the people worked on their own houses. They built nice houses for themselves, but God’s temple sat unfinished. This made God angry. God wants His people to put Him first.

    God sent a message to His people through the prophet Haggai (HAG igh). Haggai went to Zerubbabel the governor and Joshua the high priest to tell them God’s message. “You live in beautiful houses,” said the Lord, “while My house lies in ruins.” Was it right for God’s people to put themselves first? No, their actions did not honor God. God told them to think about what was happening. “You plant seeds, but you gather only a few crops. You have food to eat, but you are still hungry. You have clothes to wear, but you are still cold.” This was happening because the people put themselves first. God did not bless their work because they did not put Him first. God told them to get wood from the hills and finish rebuilding the temple of God.

    Zerubbabel, Joshua, and all the people listened to Haggai’s message from God. They chose to obey God and honor Him. “The Lord says, ‘I am with you,’ ” Haggai said. All of the people were excited and encouraged. They began the work on the temple again. A little time passed, and then God spoke to Haggai again. He told Haggai what to say to the people of God. This is what the Lord said: “Do you remember what the first temple looked like? What do you think? Was the first temple more beautiful?” God said, “Zerubbabel, don’t be discouraged! Joshua, don’t be discouraged! All you people, don’t be discouraged! Keep working hard. I am with you.” Then God said that something big was going to happen. He said that other nations were going to give gifts for the temple—silver and gold! God said, “This temple will be greater than first. My glory will be here, and I will bring peace to this place.” God promised to bless the people because they chose to obey Him.

Add Haggai to your timeline.

  1. True/False questions:

                                            True                                          False

                  Haggai was a prophet of God.                  Haggai was a soldier.

                  Haggai lived in the land of Judah.            Haggai lived in the land of Babylon.

                  Haggai said to rebuild the temple.            Haggai said to build your own house.

 

  1. Consider with the children the importance of having a church to worship in. Do we have a church? What do we do in church? Do we have houses? What do we do in our houses? What can we do in both? How are the two different? How important is it to have a church to worship in?

 

  1. Review the prophecies about the Christ: Isaiah? (born of a virgin, a Nazarene, suffering and death); Micah? (born in Bethlehem); Jeremiah? (the slaying of all children under two); Zechariah? (riding on a donkey).

  1. Make Hebrew people, one per child:

Take a toilet paper tube for each person. Cut a strip of white paper for the face, colored paper for the clothing, and make a hat of tinfoil or cloth. Draw in the features. Glue on colored paper arms with white hands. Play with the people, helping them to build God a temple. Use the model of the temple made by the teens if you want.

 

  1. Close with prayer.