The Wall Builder

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The Wall Builder / Nehemiah 4:10-23

One Main Truth: Weak areas allow the enemy to attack,weak areas must be repaired

“Are you ready for the Joy of Discovery? Unlock the One Main Truth: It’s an adventure in the Game, a revelation in the Bible, and it will transform your Life. Let’s take one step closer to becoming a Champion for Eternity!”

In the Game: “You Looked for a Weak Spot to Break Through” 
In the Bible: “Nehemiah Repaired the Weak Spots in the Wall” 
In Your Life: “You Need to Repair the Weak Spots in Your Life”

1 GAME EXPERIENCE: Red Rover

  1. Arrange the children in a single-file line, starting with the shortest player and ending with the tallest. Alternate the direction by having the first child step to the left and the second child step to the right, continuing until two new lines are formed, with players evenly divided by size. 
  2. Have the players in both lines stand shoulder to shoulder, facing the opposite line. Maintain a distance of approximately 15 feet between the two lines.
  3. Instruct the players in each line to hold hands, spread out, and extend their arms to the sides, linking hands with the player next to them. This formation creates a strong “WALL.”
  4. Initiate the game by having the first team call out, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send ‘Raj’ right over.” The designated player, Raj, from the opposing team, looks and tries to find a weak spot to break through. If Raj successfully breaks through the wall, Raj selects a player from the team to join his side. However, if Raj is unable to break through, Raj becomes a member of the opposing team.
  5. Rotate turns between the teams, allowing each group the opportunity to call out, “Red Rover, Red Rover, send ‘Someone’ right over.” The game continues as players strategize trying to find the weak spots in the opposing wall. 

2 BIBLE DISCOVERIES: Gospel & Truth - Nehemiah 4:10-23

THE CIRCUMSTANCE (Nehemiah 4:10-12)
In the historical city of Jerusalem, around 445 BC, there was a huge problem. The once-mighty walls of the city lay in ruins, leaving the people exposed to dangers from
enemies. As the people looked upon the walls around their town, they shed tears of sorrow. These walls were meant to keep them safe, but they only saw broken bricks
and broken walls. What could only a few do to fix the problem? Many gave in to sadness, and loss of hope of living safely within the walls of Jerusalem. Then they prayed to God for help. Yet, in the middle of the rubble, a spark of hope came. This happened through the leadership of Nehemiah. Nehemiah heard the voice of God and traveled from a distance far away to help them.

THE CHOICE (Nehemiah 4:13-14)
Nehemiah was a man of prayer, he loved the Lord God with all of his heart. God told Nehemiah to go and help the people, to rebuild the wall. As a result, he obeyed God and went to Israel. The people of Judah had a choice to make. Would they remain weak with doubts and unbelievers? Or believe God and Nehemiah? Nehemiah gathered the people together and said. “come, let us build up the wall of Jerusalem.”Nehemiah 2:17-18 The people felt God move upon their hearts giving them strength and courage. Then with one voice, they answered back “Let us rise up and build.” Their enemies were teasing, laughing, and threatening them with physical harm, hoping to stop the work. During this time, Nehemiah’s leadership shone brightly. He placed the men around the broken walls and told them to defend their city. He spoke words of encouragement, urging them not to fear. “Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome,” he declared, “and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your homes.” In this moment of choice, Nehemiah’s faith and determination inspired the people to press forward.

THE CONSEQUENCE (Nehemiah 4:15-23)
(Teacher explain and show with your hands the setting of the sun and the raising of the stars in the sky.)The consequence of their choice was remarkable. Despite the threats and challenges, the people returned to work with new strength. They rebuilt the walls with one hand while holding their swords with the other, ready to defend their progress. Their unity was
evident as half of them stood guard, protecting their fellow workers, while the other half labored to rebuild.(Ask the children to follow your hand motions.) As the sun set and the stars emerged, the sound of the trumpet rallied them together. They recognized that their strength alone was not enough; their trust in God was key. “Our God will fight for us.” (Children shout
as the Israelites did. “Our God will fight for us.” I didn’t hear you, shout it again “Our God will fight for us.” Great job!) Nehemiah assured them of God’s help. Their strong faith and commitment were rewarded as God stopped their enemies’ plans and granted them victory.

THE LIFE LESSON
Nehemiah’s leadership was not just about repairing the wall, it was about instilling a sense of purpose and unity. He led by example, choosing to labor, day and night, never removing his weapon. The people followed suit, passing the night within the city to guard against threats. The results of their working together were two-fold. Physically, the walls were rebuilt, providing protection and security. Spiritually, their faith grew stronger as they saw God working for them. Their devotion and belief in God were proof of His faithfulness to them. Life Lesson Quote: “In the face of challenges, choose faith over fear, and unity over division. With God’s guidance, the impossible becomes possible.”

3 LIFE CONNECTIONS: Connecting Jesus to Every Child

(1) The One Main Truth Planted in MY HEART, Growing MY ATTITUDE

POWER WORDS:  “Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace.”  Nehemiah 2:17b

(2) The One Main Truth Rooted in MY MIND, Leading MY CHOICES

POWER QUESTIONS:

Game Questions:

  • Raise your hand if you were called to break through the wall.
  • Where did you try to break through (the weak area) Why there? (Because it was weak I could break through easily)
  • Can you think of strategies to strengthen your team’s “wall” in the game? How can these strategies be applied to areas in your life where you need to strengthen weaknesses?
    Boys & girls, that sounds a lot like what we just discovered in the Bible!”

Bible Questions:

  • Did Nehemiah try to fix the strong areas or the weak areas in the wall? (the weak areas) Why? (that is where the enemy could break through). According to Nehemiah 4:10-23, what threat did the people face while rebuilding the wall of Jerusalem? How did they respond to this threat? 
  • Nehemiah encouraged the people not to be afraid and to remember the Lord’s greatness (Nehemiah 4:14). How does remembering God’s strength help us face challenges? 

Life Questions:

  • In Nehemiah 4:20, Nehemiah speaks of relying on God to fight for them. How does this relate to the idea of repairing weak areas? How can we rely on God to strengthen us? 
  • Boys and girls in your life, your character, your attitude, and your actions are like walls protecting God’s Spirit within, You may have strong areas, but possibly you have weak areas like not telling Mom and Dad the truth or maybe cheating at school.
  • Think about areas in your life where you’ve identified weaknesses. How can you work on repairing these weak areas to become stronger? 

(3) The One Main Truth Today Committed in MY SOUL, Inspiring MY ACTIONS

POWER PRAYER: Repeat After Me “God my life, my character, my attitude, and actions are like walls protecting my heart, Jesus show me the weak areas in my life 
*Let’s be still and quiet, opening your heart to hear God’s whisper* 
(Coach, wait at least 14 seconds, allowing God to connect to every child)
Jesus, I need your strength to rebuild my “walls” strong.   

Ask the children what is their favorite worship song and then sing several worship songs with Strong & Powerful Worship Motions
(Click here for worship songs
“GameLife Strong & Powerful Worship Motions”)

Now, remember to share this truth,
practice this truth, and bring a friend back with you! Boys and girls, let’s go out as the
“Champions for Eternity” that God expects us to become!

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