Lesson - Haggai

VERSES:   Haggai 1:1-2:23

MEMORY VERSE:   Haggai 1:2   "Thus speaketh the LORD of hosts..."

BOOK TO REMEMBER:   Revelation.   Write "Revelation" on small slips of paper and hand out at the end of class, so the students make take it home and memorize the last book of the New Testament.

PRAYER:  May we always respect what God has to say, not adding to it or taking from it.

SPECIAL SONG:   Read, Read Every Day  (see February - Songs We Sing In Bible Class #1 on this blog.  Click on orange circle to hear tune.)

VISUAL AID:   Large Activity (see below)

LESSON POINTS:

• The prophet, Haggai, wrote an Old Testament book that bears his name and consists of four sermons in two chapters. He is considered a minor prophet due to his small amount of writing, not because he was not as important as the other prophets, such as Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Daniel. Haggai's name means "Festival" or "Joyous One."  He preached at the same time Zechariah preached. We will be learning about Zechariah soon. Haggai's sermons has shadows of the church.
• After the Babylonians had taken God's people to Babylon and held them captive because of their disobedience to God and serving idols, a small amount of people, or a remnant, was finally allowed to return to Jerusalem. Haggai was among the first group to return to Jerusalem led by Zerubbabel, who was the governor of Judah. 
• When the people returned to Jerusalem, they were more concerned with building their own homes and getting their own affairs in order and had not rebuilt the temple in Jerusalem. God was displeased about this and spoke to Haggai who in turn spoke to the leaders of God's people and reminded them to get busy and build the temple.Haggai scolded the people for not being busy with the LORD's work. Haggai told them to build the house of the LORD. He told them to put God first!
• There are five messages in Haggai's four sermons. They are:
• "Thus says the LORD of Hosts."
• "Build the temple!"
• "Consider your ways!"
• "Sin is contagious and pollutes."
• "There is a better day ahead!"

"Older Student" Tips:

• Take a look at the genealogies in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah and the man who led God's people to return to Jerusalem is in both.

ACTIVITY:   Haggai
Materials needed:  9" x 12" any color construction paper, crayons.

1. Hand out paper.
2. Fold paper in thirds.
3. Fold in half again.
4. On the outside of the folded paper, write "Haggai."
5. Unfold once.
   
6. Write "2 chapters."
7. Completely unfold paper.
8. Trace the lines made by folding the paper.
9. First Box:  Write "5 messages from 4 sermons."
10. Number the rest of the boxes from 1 to 5.
11. Box #1:  Write "This says the LORD of Hosts" in the middle of the box. Color around the words.
12. Box #2: Draw a hammer and nail. Write "Build the temple!" in the box.
13. Box #3: Draw a person, thinking. Write "Consider Your Ways!" in the box.
14. Box #4: Write "SIN is contagious and pollutes." Color.
15. Box #5: Draw a sun coming up over the mountains. Write "There is a better day ahead." in the box.
    
16. Fold back up again and take home.