Gospel Project for Kids
Sunday 1/26/20 
Unit 17, Session 4: Zechariah the Prophet

Dear Parents,
Zechariah was a priest who had been born in Babylon. He had returned to Jerusalem
with Zerubbabel. At this time, the prophet Haggai was bringing God’s message to His
people. The Judean exiles were struggling to finish rebuilding God’s temple. In fact,
several years had passed without progress on the temple when God called Zechariah to
prophesy to His people.

Zechariah’s message was twofold: first, look back and remember the past. Second, look
forward and prepare for the future. God wanted His people to learn from the mistakes of
their parents and grandparents who had ignored the prophets’ warnings. Zechariah set
out to encourage the people.

The Book of Zechariah is organized into eight visions, four messages, and two oracles.
The visions Zechariah saw each symbolized something God would do—such as rebuild
Jerusalem, judge Israel’s enemies, and remove national sin. (See Zech. 1–6.) A couple
of years later, God spoke to Zechariah again. This time, God spoke four messages to
respond to a question the people had about fasting. (Zech. 7:3)

In the last six chapters, Zechariah changed the subject to the future of God’s kingdom.
Chapters 9–12 are rich with Messianic prophecy; the words are quoted often in the New
Testament. Compare Zechariah 9:9 with John 12:15; Zechariah 11:13 with Matthew
27:9; and Zechariah 12:10 with John 19:37.

As you talk with your kids about Zechariah, emphasize God’s promise: “A king is
coming.” Zechariah’s visions were significant to the reality of God’s people at that time,
but a greater reality awaited. Zechariah pointed to Jesus, the coming deliverer who
would be struck and pierced to take away sin. God would deal with His people’s
enemies. He would cleanse His people. “They will call on my name, and I will answer
them; I will say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The LORD is our God’” (Zech.
13:9). Under the rule of King Jesus, our future is incredibly bright.

God was going to help His people and give them a different kind of
king. Jesus is the King who came and rode humbly on a donkey, just as Zechariah said. Because
Zechariah's prophecy came true in Jesus, we can have hope and forgiveness of
sins when we trust in Jesus.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for
Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

 Babies and Toddlers
○ The prophets told about Jesus.
○ God kept His promise to send Jesus.
○ Zechariah said that God would send a special King.
○ Jesus is the special King whom God promised to send.
○ One day, Jesus will live with His people forever.

 Preschool
○ How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus.
○ Zechariah said the Messiah is coming.

 Kids
○ How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father
and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
○ Zechariah said the Messiah is coming.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE
 Jeremiah 29:11

NEXT WEEK
 “Esther Saved Her People” (Esther)

Gospel Project for Kids
Sunday 1/19/20
Unit 17, Session 3: The Temple Was Rebuilt

Dear Parents,
At last! God’s people returned to Jerusalem, the home of their ancestors. God had given
them another opportunity to live as His special people. They got to work right away,
completing the foundation of the Lord’s temple.

Many of God’s people had been born in Babylon, but they had likely heard the stories of
their parents and grandparents, stories of a life in the land God had given them. They
probably heard of their families’ mistakes: ignoring God, worshiping idols, and
mistreating the poor. But the Lord had been gracious! He kept His promise to bring His
people back to Judah.

Life in Judah wasn’t exactly what they had imagined. It was difficult. Their national
wealth was gone. The work of rebuilding the temple and the city of Jerusalem was hard.
The land was desolate, and crops failed. Their neighbors opposed their efforts. (See
Ezra 4:6,11-16.)

God’s people were disappointed and discouraged. Rather than fight their enemies,
God’s people gave up. The temple of the Lord sat unfinished for 16 years. The people
made excuses. “Maybe it’s not time to rebuild the temple,” they reasoned. If that was
what God wanted, wouldn’t He make it easier for them? (See Hag. 1:2.) God’s people
moved on to building their own homes.

The prophet Haggai stepped onto the scene and rebuked the people for their misplaced
priorities. (Hag. 1:4) He brought words from the Lord, commanding them to finish the
work they started. God promised to fill the temple with His glory, and comforted His
weary people with this promise: “I will provide peace in this place” (Hag. 2:7,9).

God promised to be with His people and bless them—and not only them, but the whole
world through them, keeping the promise He made to Abraham long ago. (See Gen.
12:3.) Through God’s servant, Zerubbabel, God would send His Son, Jesus—the greater
Servant who is God with us.

God's people rebuilt the temple so they would have a place to worship God. Years
later, God sent His Son, Jesus, to be with His people. Now God dwells not in the
temple, but directly with His people. Jesus provided something better than the
temple; He gives us Himself.

Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for
Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.

FAMILY STARTING POINTS

! Babies and Toddlers
○ The prophets told about Jesus.
○ Jesus is with us wherever we go.
○ God helped His people rebuild the temple.
○ Haggai said God was with them.
○ Because of Jesus, we can worship God anywhere.

! Preschool
○ How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus.
○ God’s people rebuilt the temple.

! Kids
○ How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father
and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
○ God’s people rebuilt the temple to glorify God.

UNIT KEY PASSAGE
! Jeremiah 29:11

NEXT WEEK
! “Zechariah the Prophet” (Zechariah)

The Gospel Project for Kids
               Sunday School
               1/13/20
 Unit 17, Session 2: The Captives Come Home 

Dear Parents, 
God’s people had been living in Babylon for 70 years. Some of God’s people had died in Babylon. Some of their children and grandchildren were born in Babylon and grew up there. But Babylon was not their home. Before the people of Judah were exiled, God had spoken through the prophet Jeremiah. These are the words of the Lord: “These nations will serve the king of Babylon for seventy years” (Jer. 25:11). Then the Lord said, “When seventy years for Babylon are complete, I will attend to you and will confirm my promise concerning you to restore you to this place” (Jer. 29:10). The time had come for God’s people to go back home. Cyrus, the king of the Persian empire, had overthrown Babylon. Cyrus took over the kingdom, including the lands of Israel and Judah. In the following year, the Lord did something miraculous in Cyrus’s heart. He prompted Cyrus to issue a decree: All the Jewish exiles are free to return to their ancestral homes. The exile was over! God’s people were free to return to their own land. They were free to live as God’s special people. The first group of Judean exiles returned home under the leadership of Zerubbabel (zuh RUHB uh buhl). Zerubbabel was the grandson of King Jehoiachin, who had been taken to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. (See 2 Kings 24:8-13.) Ezra 2:64-65 says nearly 50,000 people traveled back to Judah. When they got to Jerusalem, they began working to rebuild the temple that the Chaldeans had destroyed. (See 2 Chron. 36:19.) Explain to your kids that the temple was the place where God met with His people. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people from sin. When Jesus returns, He will restore the earth and will dwell with His people forever. Zerubbabel led God's people back to the temple to rebuild it. The temple was the place where God met with His people on earth. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people. One day Jesus will return to restore a greater home for all of God's people, and we will spend eternity with Him.

 Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week. 

FAMILY STARTING POINTS  
Babies and Toddlers 
○ The prophets told about Jesus. 
○ Jesus will give us a home with Him. 
○ God brought His people back to their land. 
○ Zerubbabel led the people to build the temple. 
○ Jesus brings us to God. 

 Preschool 
○ How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus. 
○ God kept His promise to bring His people home.  

Kids 
○ How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke. 
○ God kept His promise to bring His people home. 

UNIT KEY PASSAGE 
Jeremiah 29:11
 NEXT WEEK  “The Temple Was Rebuilt” (Ezra 4–6; Haggai)




Royal Ambassadors, Girls in Action, Mission Friends
January 2020

This month, children will learn how One More Child helps children across the United States and around the world. One More Child trains foster parents to care for children in Christian homes. They support single moms by providing a safe place for them to live until they are self-sufficient. They host a safe house program that helps victims overcome their pasts. They also run feeding programs, training conferences, and schools in Uganda, Colombia, and Nicaragua. As One More Child meets these physical needs, they are sharing God’s love and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE FOCUS
The story of Jonah reveals that we can call out to God for help, and the Lord will generously give us a second chance. Jonah was running away from God. He did not want to deliver God’s message to Nineveh. He found himself in the midst of a storm in the middle of the ocean and in the belly of a huge fish. Jonah called out to the Lord for help from inside the fish belly. God listened to him and answered him. You can pray to God at any time and in any place.

MINISTRY FOCUS 
Dr. Jerry Haag is the president and CEO of One More Child. Nothing brings him greater joy than feeding children physically and spiritually. But there are so many more children who need help. They need homes and loving families. When Jerry visited a school in Uganda, he saw a young boy on the outside of the school grounds looking through a fence. This boy desperately wanted to be with these children who were well-cared-for. This is the reality all around the world and even in our own backyard. There are children who are hungry and in need of love because there are not enough foster homes, food, and resources to care for them.

​Dear OCBC Family,

I don't know quite how to express my gratitude to you for the love and support you've given our family over the past 5 weeks.  People from our church family have prayed for us and over us, visited at the hospital, brought meals to our home, sent text messages, emails, cards, gift cards, and thoughts of encouragement.  Many from OCBC have taken care of my own children and taken care of the children's ministry. I think most wives who have to walk through open-heart surgery with their husbands do not have 5 kids at home and two on the way.  It's been a little stressful to say the least.  However, what could have been one of the darkest, bleakest, and most difficult times in my life has been one of the most blessing-filled and rewarding.  Nine years ago when we were praying about transferring from Oklahoma City to Fort Worth, my greatest concern was raising a family away from our families.  Through prayer and scripture, God laid it on my heart that I should not fear such a thing because He would provide a family for us in Texas.  And He has been so faithful to indeed do just that.  Thank you for being our family.  Thank you for being the hands and feet of Jesus during a time that I so desperately needed them.  Even though it is a long process, Robert is recovering very well.  He is working from home for now, and the plan is for him to return to work on January 15th (3/4 time) and then full time in February.  Our kids have adjusted to the new normal, and we have all enjoyed a wonderful Christmas season.  We are looking forward to enjoying a little peace and normalcy before it gets really crazy in April when these baby girls arrive! We love you all and are so grateful for each of you.

In Christ,
Stephenie Stokes

The Gospel Project for Kids
               Sunday School
               1/5/20
Unit 17, Session 1: Obadiah the Prophet
 
The conflict between Edom and Israel originates in the story of Jacob and Esau. The twins struggled in the womb, and their mother, Rebekah, asked God why. God explained that from her womb would come two nations, and the older would serve the younger. (Gen. 25:23)

The nation of Israel descended from Jacob (the younger), and the nation of Edom descended from Esau (the older). God promised to Jacob the same promises He made to Abraham (Gen. 28:15), but Esau was a godless man who despised God’s promises. (Heb. 12:16)

For centuries, the two families were at odds. When Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, the king of Edom refused to let the Israelites pass through his country to get to the promised land. (Num. 20:14-21) Edom fought against Israel on several occasions. (See 2 Chron. 20:2; 28:17; 2 Kings 8:20-22.)

The Book of Obadiah is God’s message about Edom in response to their sin—specifically their gloating over the Babylonian invasion of Jerusalem. When the Babylonians invaded Jerusalem, the people of Edom didn’t help. Like an envious brother, Edom was glad to see Judah overcome. In fact, Edom was a guilty participant in the action against Judah. (Obad. 11)

The prophet Obadiah detailed the charges against Edom, announced their guilt, and handed down the sentence from the Lord: Edom would be totally destroyed. No remnant of Esau’s family would remain. On the other hand, Obadiah said God’s people would be restored.

God said the people of Edom would get what they deserved. “As you have done, it will be done to you; what you deserve will return on your own head” (Obad. 15). God’s rule is just. The fate of the Edomites might as well be ours. But here’s the reality: As you have done, it was done to Christ; what you deserve was returned on His head. Jesus is King, and one day He will deliver His people from their enemies once and for all.

Like God’s people were mistreated by the people of Edom, Jesus was mistreated by His own people. God will punish sin. Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sin. We can trust Jesus to make wrong things right.
 
Check this session’s Activity Page and Big Picture Card as well as the Gospel Project for Kids Family App for ways to interact with the Bible content this week.
 
FAMILY STARTING POINTS
●     Babies and Toddlers
The prophets told about Jesus.
One day, Jesus will make wrong things right.
Edom was happy when God punished Judah.
Obadiah said God would bring His people back to their land.
Jesus will be king over God’s people forever.
●     Preschool
How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus.
God promised to take care of His people.
Kids
How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
God promised to restore Israel and rule the earth as King.
 
UNIT KEY PASSAGE
●     Jeremiah 29:11
 
NEXT WEEK
●     “The Captives Came Home” (Ezra 1–3)



Royal Ambassadors, Girls in Action, Mission Friends
January 2020

This month, children will learn how One More Child helps children across the United States and around the world. One More Child trains foster parents to care for children in Christian homes. They support single moms by providing a safe place for them to live until they are self-sufficient. They host a safe house program that helps victims overcome their pasts. They also run feeding programs, training conferences, and schools in Uganda, Colombia, and Nicaragua. As One More Child meets these physical needs, they are sharing God’s love and spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ.

BIBLE FOCUS
The story of Jonah reveals that we can call out to God for help, and the Lord will generously give us a second chance. Jonah was running away from God. He did not want to deliver God’s message to Nineveh. He found himself in the midst of a storm in the middle of the ocean and in the belly of a huge fish. Jonah called out to the Lord for help from inside the fish belly. God listened to him and answered him. You can pray to God at any time and in any place.

MINISTRY FOCUS 
Dr. Jerry Haag is the president and CEO of One More Child. Nothing brings him greater joy than feeding children physically and spiritually. But there are so many more children who need help. They need homes and loving families. When Jerry visited a school in Uganda, he saw a young boy on the outside of the school grounds looking through a fence. This boy desperately wanted to be with these children who were well-cared-for. This is the reality all around the world and even in our own backyard. There are children who are hungry and in need of love because there are not enough foster homes, food, and resources to care for them.