What drives you?  What motivates the choices you make and the decisions that shape your life?  Is the desire to glorify God anywhere near the top of your motivation list?  For Nehemiah, the desire to glorify God was all-consuming, and it motivated heroic effort.  Check out some thoughts on this week’s Sunday School lesson from Nehemiah 1-6.

God Uses Esther to Protect the Jews

Passage:  Esther

Principle:  Believers trust in God’s plan, power, and protection.

Praise:  “Awesome God”

Prompt:  Ask your child these questions:

• How did Esther become Ahasuerus’s queen?
• What events led to God’s protection of the Jews?

Practice:  Help your child apply these truths in the following ways:

• By praising God, who controls every event.
• By being courageous in doing the right thing.

This Week:  As a family, read selected portions of the book of Esther.

Next Week:  Nehemiah 1:1–4:23; 6:15–16

Memory Verse:  Proverbs 29:25
“The fear of man brings a snare, But whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe”

God’s plan will be accomplished, but will you have a part?  How do you respond to the opportunities God places before you?  Do you believe that God wants to use you as He carries out His will?  Check out some thoughts on this week’s Sunday School lesson from the book of Esther.

God Reveals His Goodness to the Jews

Passage:  Ezra 7–10

Principle:  Believers repent when they see God’s goodness and their sin.

Praise:  “Lord, I Lift Your Name on High”

Prompt:  Ask your child these questions:

• How did God reveal His goodness to Ezra?
• What attributes of God are found in Ezra’s prayer?

Practice:  Help your child apply these truths in the following ways:

• By studying, obeying, and teaching God’s Word.
• By confessing your sin and changing your actions.

This Week:  As a family, read selected portions of Ezra 7–10.

Next Week:  Esther

Memory Verse:  Ezra 7:10
“For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel”

What is the connection between gratitude and repentance?  Are we cultivating the kind of heart that repents quickly and thoroughly?  Check out some thoughts on this week’s Sunday School lesson from Ezra 7-10.

God Moves the Jews to Restore Worship

Passage:  Ezra 1–6

Principle:  Believers respond to the blessing of worship by submitting their heart to God.

Praise:  “I Stand in Awe”

Prompt:  Ask your child these questions:

• How did God fulfill Jeremiah’s prophesy?
• How did the Israelites worship God?

Practice:  Help your child apply these truths in the following ways:

• By repenting from false worship and following Christ.
• By worshiping God with a rejoicing heart.

This Week:  As a family, read selected portions of Ezra 1–6.

Next Week:  Ezra 7–10

Memory Verse:  Psalm 40:3
“He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God; Many will see it and fear, And will trust in the LORD”

How much do you care about worshiping God?  Enough to overcome some obstacles?  The Israelites had to do that and so do we.  Check out some thoughts on this week’s Sunday School lesson from Ezra 1-6.

God Delivers Daniel from the Lions’ Den

Passage:  Daniel 6

Principle:  Believers are faithful before God.

Praise:  “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”

Prompt:  Ask your child these questions:

• How was Daniel faithful to God?
• What did God reveal about Himself by saving Daniel?

Practice:  Help your child apply these truths in the following ways:

• By developing of habit of praying continually.
• By trusting that God is faithful to those who belong to Him.

This Week:  As a family, read selected portions of Daniel 6.

Next Week:  Ezra 1-6

Memory Verse:  Psalm 25:20
“Keep my soul, and deliver me; Let me not be ashamed, for I put my trust in You.”

How should Daniel’s rescue from the lions’ den motivate us to build godly habits?  Check out some thoughts on this week’s Sunday School lesson from Daniel 6.

God Judges Belshazzar for His Pride

Passage:  Daniel 5

Principle:  Believers respond to God’s warning before they are judged.

Praise:  “Trust in the Lord with All Your Heart”

Prompt:  Ask your child these questions:

• Why did Belshazzar use the vessels from the Lord’s temple?
• What happened to the wall, and what did the writing mean?

Practice:  Help your child apply these truths in the following ways:

• By repenting when others are punished.
• By telling others about God’s judgment.

This Week:  As a family, read selected portions of Daniel 5.

Next Week:  Daniel 6

Memory Verse:  Proverbs 29:25b
“Whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe”