Children’s Sermon (Nehemiah 8:1-12) Nehemiah and Celebration for the Restoration of the Wall

Children’s Message on Nehemiah 8 “The Newly Build of the Wall”

Main Objective: Nehemiah is a remarkable figure in the Bible, but one that might not be celebrated as regularly as others. This message focuses on the restoration and celebration that we find in Nehemiah, and how it relates to renewal and redemption in our lives. Sometimes we make mistakes that can be easily fixed, but there are other aspects of ourselves that only God can restore. Encourage students to consider how we can look to God for strength and joy.

Law/Gospel Theme: Nehemiah relied on God to accomplish the remarkable task of rebuilding the city wall of Jerusalem. The people involved made sacrifices and went to great lengths to finish the project, with the Lord’s help, and they rejoiced in God’s providence. This reminds us of how Jesus renews and restores our lives. The wall protected the city physically, and the blood of Christ cleanses and protects our spiritual features. We have the hope that all things are possible with God, and He can and will rebuild us from the inside out!

Nehemiah 8:1-12 Children’s Sermon on Nehemiah Rebuilds

Optional Materials: Bricks, Legos, or other simple building materials, Bibles

Bible Passage: Nehemiah 8:1-12 (reference other parts of Nehemiah, too)

Message: Note: As with most messages, the details of how you choose to communicate this are adaptable and should cater to timing as well as to your audience and student needs.

Greet children and discuss building things…

Hello, children of God!
Have you ever built something? Maybe you’ve made a special craft out of paper or Playdoh. Or perhaps you have used some bricks or Legos. As you describe, demonstrate building a tower or structure with blocks, or have students build one of their own. Show how it can easily be destroyed or knocked over, as well. Sometimes we make really wonderful and elaborate things, and maybe you have built something that you felt pretty proud of. But you know, sometimes those things we build can suddenly come crashing apart or get broken. Maybe your dog or little brother walks by and accidentally hits something, and all of that hard work feels ruined. The good thing is, though, that things like block towers or crafts can usually be re-built. Demonstrate building back as you discuss. With a little effort, you can restore things or even make them better than they were before! But sometimes we encounter things that are harder to fix. Maybe there are things in our lives, on the inside, that seem hopeless. However, we know Someone who has the power to rebuild, restore, and redeem even the toughest of circumstances. Who might that be? God, of course!

This theme reminds me of someone in the Bible named Nehemiah. Have kids repeat the name back. Nehemiah was a man who, with the help of God and the people of God, did something pretty remarkable. Nehemiah lived in a time when God’s people were beginning to return to their home after a long exile. The city of Jerusalem had been destroyed and the people of Israel had been living far away in other places, but some of them were finally starting to go back. However, Nehemiah learned some news that made him very sad. He was a man of God who was working for the king at the time, and he heard that the city of Jerusalem needed some repairs. The wall that was to protect the city was in bad shape and couldn’t do its job, and the gates had been destroyed. Nehemiah asked the king for permission to go back and rebuild the city walls, and the king allowed him to.

So Nehemiah, after a lot of prayer, went back to Jerusalem. With help from the people and from God, they all worked together to repair what was needed in the city. They encountered challenges and oppositions, but they persevered and finished the job, in only 52 days (and this was before modern machinery made construction easier)! When they had finished, they gathered to read God’s word. They listened to Scripture, and many of the people were saddened and started to cry. They realized they hadn’t always kept the law, and felt upset by it. But Nehemiah encouraged and reassured them. He told them not to be sad, but to rejoice, because God was with them and the day was holy, and the joy of the Lord was their strength. God was the One who made all things possible and who had given the people the ability to do what they had done. Hearing the Word of the Lord was a celebration!

This has a lot of important meaning for us today. Just as God enabled Nehemiah and the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem, God rebuilds things in our lives. This might not be physical, like a wall, but there are spiritual elements of our lives that often need repaired and restored. God does this for us. Through His Son, Jesus, He redeems us and restores all of the broken things that dismay us. We can rely on Him for strength. God also gives us joy. We can pray for Him to help us with anything and everything that we need, and be confident that He will provide. The Bible reminds us that He is our source of all blessing and power. He rebuilds and restores us from the inside out. We can be thankful for His Word and look to Him for all things.

Let’s pray now and thank God for being our joy and strength.

Prayer:
(Have kids repeat each line)
Dear God,
Thank you for giving us strength and hope.
Thank you for rebuilding and restoring our lives.
Help us to trust in you
For all things in our lives.
Thank you for your love
We love you, God!
In Jesus name, Amen!

Bible Verses/story to Reference:

And all the people gathered as one man into the square before the Water Gate. And they told Ezra the scribe to bring the Book of the Law of Moses that the Lord had commanded Israel. ^²So Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could understand what they heard, on the first day of the seventh month. ^³And he read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the Book of the Law. ^⁴And Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platform that they had made for the purpose. And beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand, and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. ^⁵And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people, and as he opened it all the people stood.^⁶And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. ^⁷Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law, while the people remained in their places. ^⁸They read from the book, from the Law of God, clearly, and they gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.

^⁹And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept as they heard the words of the Law.^¹⁰Then he said to them, “Go your way. Eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready, for this day is holy to our Lord. And do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” ^¹¹So the Levites calmed all the people, saying, “Be quiet, for this day is holy; do not be grieved.” ^¹²And all the people went their way to eat and drink and to send portions and to make great rejoicing, because they had understood the words that were declared to them.

-Nehemiah 8:1-12