Ezekiel and the Dry Bones

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Ezekiel was a Jewish priest who was captured and taken to Babylon a few years after Daniel. God chose him to prophesy about all of the things that were happening back in Jerusalem. After Jerusalem was destroyed, Ezekiel began prophesying about the hope that God would restore the Jews to their land someday. God showed Ezekiel how he could bring a bunch of old dry bones to life. In the same way, God could bring His people back to life if they would turn to Him.

Bible verses used in this episode:

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Outline:

1. In a vision, Ezekiel witnesses God bringing dry bones back to life. (Ezekiel 37:1-10)
2. God explains that, in the same way, he will bring life back to his people. (Ezekiel 37:11-14)

Tips for teaching children:

• Collect items so that children can learn about bones. These might be toy skeletons or x-rays. Make a point to have children feel their bones through their skin.
• Show pictures of bones, muscles, flesh and skin.
• Discuss hope and how it is more than a wish. It is a belief that something will happen.

Tips for teaching adults:

• Have the text read in the class. Use outline in show notes to divide up the reading.
• Ask the class to think about the following questions and then get a few people to share their responses with the class. Have you ever felt hopeless? Why? What happened to move you from hopelessness to hope?
• This story is one of the most powerful texts on hope in the OT. Another one is in Ephesians 2:1-10. Read these verses and ask class to compare this text with Ezekiel 37. How are they similar? What’s the message of hope in the Ephesians text?
• Write down some of the promises God has made to us as his people? Close in prayer by thanking God for his promises and the hope we have in Jesus.

Full teaching instructions free from Mission Bible Class:

Bible Lesson: Ezekiel & the Valley of Dry Bones

Scriptures quoted from The Holy Bible, International Children’s Bible® Copyright© 1986, 1988, 1999, 2015 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission.

Excerpts from Mission Bible Class used by permission.

Music: Upbeat Positive Culture (Acoustic Corporate Travel Promo Christian Rock), Individual License, Stock Media provided by HumansWin, pond5.com

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