Scripture: Nehemiah 1-4
Learning Objectives:
- Students will learn learn/review the story of Nehemiah.
- Students will learn sometimes people will try to stop you from obeying God.
- Students will learn some ways that people may try to keep you from obeying God are taunting, teasing, mocking, etc.
- Students will learn strategies for standing up to negative peer pressure.
Guiding Question: How can we stand up for ourselves and God?
Materials: For play: Large flat rocks, small flat rocks
Procedure: Have students watch the play about Nehemiah. Explain that Nehemiah loved God and God’s people so much that he helped the poor people rebuild the wall. Tobiah and his friends kept trying to stop the work but God gave Nehemiah and the workers the strength to go on! Ask the students how they would feel if they were Nehemiah and what they might do if they were in his situation.
Divide the students in two teams. Each team will take a turn helping Nehemiah or pretending to help Tobiah and his friends. The first round will consist of the children re-enacting the original drama. If there is time, have the students think of a way to handle Tobias and his friends. Afterwards, have the children think about and discuss what good things we do that people may tease us about and what some godly ways are to handle their teasing.
Additional Questions: How can students learn what to say to deal with peer pressure?
Supplemental Activity: Give each students a paper bag and slips of paper. Have the students work in partners to come up with godly things to say to others who are teasing them. Have the students write these on the slips of paper and put them in their “bag of tricks”. Explain the students can use these sayings when they find themselves dealing with peer pressure.