Leader Guide

Leader Introduction

Today’s Bible story reinforces and expands on Lessons 1-3 about Nehemiah. Nehemiah wept over the condition of the Jerusalem walls. He boldly returned to Jerusalem and assembled the Jewish people who lived in exile. Working together and empowered by God’s strength, the walls were rebuilt in only 52 days.

In the next video, Miss Tina is first impressed and then concerned with Gizmo’s charity work. Is it too much for one person, or rather, bot? Children learn the importance of working together to serve others, so no one is overwhelmed.

*Scripture is quoted from the New Living Translation unless noted.

Optional Opening Game

This game will help us to understand why it was so important in Bible times to have a strong wall to protect a city and its people from their enemies.

Let’s pretend this wall is the one around Jerusalem that was destroyed. That is why we have the holes or gaps in the wall. Let’s see how well it can protect the people and city inside the walls.

Children play one at a time. Each player will sit behind the line and roll three marbles or balls toward the walls of the city to knock down the standing tubes inside. In this round, some of the marbles should make it past the wall through the gaps.

If time permits, gather the marbles, widen the gaps between the wall sections and play again.

Did the wall protect the city very well? Children answer.

Let’s play again, but first let’s rebuild the wall to make it stronger!

Gather the marbles, stand up the tubes and push the sections of walls together so there are no gaps.

Play again as before. This time no marbles should pass through the wall.

Conclusion: Did the wall protect the city that time? Yes!

A broken-down wall meant a weak city! It was important to repair the Jerusalem wall as quickly as possible so the people could move back inside and be safe from their enemies.

Object to GO!

Set the pot on the floor or a table, remove the lid and look inside. Lead a discussion with the comments and questions below:

● Hmm, it looks like this is empty. What would you cook in something like this? Soup, corn on the cob, stew, etc.

● Soup is often cooked in a pot like this. What is your favorite kind of soup? Children respond.

● I really like soup when it starts getting cooler outside

● One of the robots in the today’s video has cooked some soup. Do you think it is Gears, Gizmo, Rig, or Widget? Children guess.

● I think at least one person guessed correctly! Let’s watch the video now to find out who cooked the soup and if the cook made it to enjoy alone.

Leave the question unanswered until it is revealed in the video.

Today we are going to the lab where Miss Tina is working on her computer tablet. Someone keeps walking past her as she works; let’s see who it is.

Play Video (Gizmo Goes and Goes)

Gizmo Goes and Goes

● Why did Gizmo have all the coats? He was taking them to the coat drive to give to others.

Gizmo sure got himself in a mess, didn’t he?

● Why did Gizmo have a construction hat, hammer and tool belt? He was helping to build a house for the homeless.

● Hold up the Object to Go! stock pot or image. Which robot used a pot like this? Gizmo.

● Was that big pot of soup for Gizmo to eat? No, it was to feed people at a soup kitchen.

● What happened to the pot of soup? Gizmo ran into the desk, and he spilled it.

● Why didn’t Gizmo want to ask for help? Because he signed up to help and he thought he had to be the only one to do it. He felt responsible since he signed up.

● Who did Miss Tina ask to help Gizmo’s charity work? The other robots.

● Which robot offered to make another pot of soup? Rig.

● Why did Miss Tina and the other bots make funny faces when Rig offered to cook the soup? (Hint: In another video, Rig tried to make a souffle.) Rig isn’t a very good cook.

● Who offered to help Rig make the soup? Widget.

Conclusion: God is pleased when we show His love to others by giving and helping. However, He never meant for us to do it all on our own. God wants you to do what is right for you and what you can handle. Sometimes it means you can work alone, and other times you will need to work together with others. When we follow His leading, we won’t try to do too much—like Gizmo!

We must never be afraid to ask for help from a friend or trusted adult. Asking for help does not show weakness; it shows strength and wisdom.

Video Lesson

Play Video (Bible Story)

Bible Story

Nehemiah

Now, let’s watch a video about someone who knew he couldn’t do a job alone and was not afraid to ask for help. By working together with others, the job was completed in record time!

Teaching Time

Nehemiah was a good man who loved God. He served God and a king. Does anyone know what it means to serve others? To help others.

Yes, to serve is to help others with what they need.

Hold up hands and wiggle fingers with the children. God gave us helping hands to serve others.

Hold up the cup. Who served a king by bringing him a cup to drink from? Nehemiah.

Yes, Nehemiah was called a cupbearer. It was an important job.

Nehemiah got some bad news as he served the king. The Jewish people were in exile (lived away from home) and the wall in Jerusalem was destroyed. This made Nehemiah very sad.

Hold up hands together in prayer. Nehemiah prayed and asked God how he could help and serve.

After praying to God and talking with the king, Nehemiah traveled to Jerusalem to work together with the Jewish people to rebuild the wall.

Do motions for the children to imitate in bold text as you name ways to serve with our hands.

He served with his hands to break and cut stones for the wall. Make a hammering motion.

Nehemiah and the workers used their hands to hold swords, spears and shields as they worked on the wall to protect them from their enemies. Act out gripping a sword/spear in one hand and a shield over your chest with the other hand.

Because Nehemiah served God with others, the wall was finished in 52 days!

Hold up hands and wiggle fingers with the children. We don’t have a wall around our city that needs to be rebuilt, do we? So, how can we serve others using these helping hands God gave to us?

Put hands together in prayer; have children follow. Like Nehemiah, one of the most important ways to serve others is to pray for them. Prayer is listening to God and talking with Him. Nehemiah asked God for help. We can serve by praying for others, too.

Instead of building a wall or holding a spear and shield, we can use our hands to rake leaves, wash dishes, or carry things for others like bags of groceries.

We can use our hands to encourage others by giving a high five, or to clap and cheer to encourage someone.

We can use our hands to comfort others who are sad and by putting a hand on their shoulder.

Hold hands out to give. And like Nehemiah and Gizmo, we can use our hands to serve by giving. Do you remember how Gizmo served by giving? He gave coats, soup, building.

Conclusion: There are so many ways for us to serve God and others. But it is important not to try to do it all ourselves. Gizmo did not want to ask others for help, and he tried to do too much.

Nehemiah knew he needed to ask for help, and when he did, the wall got built! Never be afraid to ask for help!

Closing prayer: Heavenly Father, we lift the hands you gave to us in prayer and thanksgiving. Thank you for calling us to be Your servants and also giving us special gifts to serve others. In Jesus’ great name we pray, Amen.

Verse to GO!

1 Corinthians 12: (NLT)

Today’s Bible memory verse is 1 Corinthians 12:7. Say the Bible verse slowly.

“A spiritual gift is given to each of us so we can help each other.” 1 Corinthians 12:7

Raise your hand if you like it when someone gives you a gift. Children respond.

What are some special days that you have received a gift? Birthdays, Christmas, Easter, etc.

In the Bible verse, we all receive powerful and special gifts that only God can give. These are called spiritual gifts. A spiritual gift is an invisible gift that can’t be seen. God gives us these gifts to help us serve one another and show His love.

Now, it is time to learn the Bible verse.

Stand facing the children and lead them in repeating phrases and imitating the motions.

A spiritual gift… look up and point to the sky with both index fingers.

is given to each of us... hold both hands out to receive and smile.

so, we can help each other… point to your chest and then extend both hands out (as if to give the gift you received to others).

Repeat slowly a few more times.

Note: Preschool children may not be able to memorize the entire verse and may simply repeat it with you. Be sure children understand what a spiritual gift is, and that God gives these gifts to help others.

Prayer Time

Close the lesson in a simple prayer to work together to help others.

For example: Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for giving us spiritual gifts so that we can use them as we work together to serve others. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.

Music Time

The Solution

The lyrics and chords for this song are found in Resources.

Create your own motions or use the suggested motions as seen in the Quantum Karaoke “The Solution” under Resources, or under “Extras! in the DVD main menu.

Play the video song “The Solution.”

Encourage the children to dance, sway and sing with Miss Tina and the robots while imitating their moves or freestyling on their own.

The Solution

Si Repeat together "WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER" while holding both arms in the air to imitate the robots each time it is sung. In most cases this is every other line.

Singing Activity

Together

Lead the children in singing the song "Together." Additional instructions are located in lesson 01.

Take Home Coloring Page

As children color, review today’s lesson using the discussion points below:

● What are the people building in the picture? A wall, the Jerusalem wall.

● Why were some people holding spears and shields? To protect the workers from their enemies who did not want the walls rebuilt.

● Did the enemies succeed in stopping the workers from rebuilding the wall? No!

● Who gave strength and courage to Nehemiah and the other (Israelite) workers? God.

● Do you remember how long it took to rebuild the city wall? Fifty-two days

Game

Play the Optional Opening Game “Wall Done” at the beginning of this lesson.

Play the game “Bug Off!” from Lesson 1. 

Play the game “Working Together” from Lesson 2 

Play the game “Drawing Interest” from Lesson 3