Rebuilding the Temple
(Ezra 4-6; Haggai 1-2)
June 21st, 2026
Sunday Recap
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Sunday Recap •
Hey Fams!
Like many projects, rebuilding the temple began with enthusiasm and purpose, but eventually the work stopped. Upon their return from exile, God’s people were excited about rebuilding the temple and having a place to worship their God. Eventually their passion for rebuilding diminished due to the opposition they faced from their enemies. Instead, the people turned their efforts to work on their own dwellings.
God used the prophet Haggai to remind His people of the importance of rebuilding the temple. Specifically, the prophet asked the people why their houses were completed and adorned beautifully when the house of the Lord lay in ruins. Because of the encouragement of the prophet, the people returned to rebuilding the temple. This time, they would persevere through all of the challenges to complete the rebuild.
So why was the rebuilding of the temple so important for the people of God who had returned from exile? For them, the temple was the place where the presence of God dwelt among them. Following the Exodus, God’s manifest presence was experienced by His people in a number of ways. He dwelt with His people in the cloud and fire that guided and protected the Israelites on their journey. He dwelt with His people in a movable tabernacle where they were able to worship. And eventually, God dwelt with His people in Solomon’s temple in Jerusalem. When the temple was destroyed, it was symbolic of God removing His presence from His people. When God's people returned, the rebuilding of the temple demonstrated God was with His people, inviting them to return to Him in prayer and worship (2 Chronicles 6:36-39).
Today, we are reminded that our God does not dwell in a house made by the hands of people. When Jesus died on the cross, a symbolic act occurred in the temple. At the moment of Jesus’ death, the curtain in the temple separating the people from God’s presence split from top to bottom.
The splitting of the curtain demonstrated our new reality that Jesus’ death and victory over sin and the grave gives us direct access to the Father. Remind kids that God desires to be with them, and through faith in Christ, believers are promised His presence forever.
***Next Week: The Prophet Zechariah (Zechariah)
Family Discipleship Plan
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Family Discipleship Plan •
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Read Ezra 4-6; Haggai 1-2 from the Bible.
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Have you ever combed through a search-and-find book? A British artist made a fun series of books filled with big, busy pictures. In each one, kids get to play a game by finding a character wearing a red-and-white striped outfit hiding in the crowd. These books have been shared all around the world and have been read by millions of people. That’s a lot of eyes looking for one tiny person!
Unlike someone who hides in a picture book, God never wanted to hide from His people. In the Old Testament, God gave His people a special place where they could find Him—first the tabernacle, and then the temple. These were the places where the priests could meet with God and where God would dwell with His people.
After returning from exile, the high priest, Zerubbabel, and the people worked to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The people celebrated and made offerings to God because the temple was complete. Instead of searching for an unseen God, the temple was a reminder that God was dwelling with them.
The Bible says that everyone who trusts in Jesus receives His Spirit. We don’t have to search like we’re looking for Waldo, and we don’t have to build a temple. The Holy Spirit is God living with and in Christians. If we believe and trust in Jesus, we can have the Holy Spirit as our reminder that God is with us always and forever!
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. Jesus provides something better than the temple; He gives us Himself.
Pray: God, thank You for sending Your Spirit to everyone who believes in Jesus. We are glad we don’t have to search for You or wonder where You are. Thank You that the Holy Spirit is our Helper, our Comforter, and our reminder that You are living with and in those who trust in You. Amen.
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Preschool:
“This is our God. We waited, and He saved us.”Isaiah 25:9
1st-5th:
“At that time they will say, “He is our God. We trusted in him, and he saved us. He is the Lord. We trusted in him. Let us be filled with joy because he saved us.”
Isaiah 25:9 (NIRV) -
Mornings
Ask God to help you feel His presence today. Ask Him to remind you that He is close and not hiding from His people. What are some ways you can be reminded of God’s presence? How does Bible reading, prayer, and worship help you feel closer to God?
Evenings
Thank God for sending His Spirit to all who trust in Jesus. How is the Holy Spirit our Helper? How does the Spirit remind us of God’s promise to never leave us?
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For Fun
Purchase a search-and-find book or search for illustrations online. Track how long it takes for each family member to find the object or person. Award a prize for the family member who is the quickest to find it. Talk with kids about how God dwelt with the Israelites in the tabernacle and the temple. Remind kids that God, through His Spirit, now dwells directly with those who believe in Jesus.
To Serve
Ask your church if there are any cleaning, maintenance, or beautification projects your family can complete for the church. Work as a family to gather supplies, organize volunteers, and complete the project. Reminds kids that the church building is not where God dwells (He lives inside of Christians, who make up the church), but it is a place where we can connect with Him and with other believers. We attend, serve, and invite others to church because it is a place where we can hear the good news of Jesus.