November 24
Ezekiel Gave Hope
Bible Passage: Ezekiel 37
Story Point: God planned to bring His people home and give them new life.
Key Passage: 2 Chronicles 7:14
Big Picture Question: How did God plan to fix what sin broke? Before He created the world, God planned to send the Messiah to save sinners.
December 1
The Fiery Furnace
Bible Passage: Daniel 3
Story Point: God delivered Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego from the king
Key Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Big Picture Question: Why do we pray? We pray because we trust God, and we know He hears us.
God was with Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fire. Only He could rescue them. God rescues us too, through His Son, Jesus. Only Jesus can save us from our sin. Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross provided the way for us to be rescued from sin and have eternal life.
December 8
Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream
BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 4
STORY POINT: God humbled King Nebuchadnezzar to show that He is in control.
KEY PASSAGE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why do we pray? We pray because we trust God, and we know He hears us.
Pride steals God’s glory. God humbled King Nebuchadnezzar so he could see that God alone deserves glory. Jesus is the King of kings who humbled Himself by coming to earth and dying on the cross. Jesus saves sinners so we can live for God’s glory.
December 15
Daniel in the Lions’ Den
BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 6
STORY POINT: God shut the mouths of the lions to save Daniel.
KEY PASSAGE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why do we pray? We pray because we trust God, and we know He hears us.
God showed His power to rescue Daniel from the lions, but Daniel was just a small part of a much bigger story. God ultimately rescued us from a much bigger problem—sin and death—through His Son, Jesus.
December 22
Jesus was born
BIBLE PASSAGE: Matthew 1; Luke 2
STORY POINT: God came to earth as a human baby to be with us.
KEY PASSAGE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why do we pray? We pray because we trust God, and we know He hears us.
Jesus’ birth fulfilled the Old Testament prophecy. God the Son came into the world as Immanuel. Jesus was born to be “God with us” and to save people from sin.
December 29
Daniel’s Dream
BIBLE PASSAGE: Daniel 7
STORY POINT: God is the eternal King who judges the nations.
KEY PASSAGE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Why do we pray? We pray because we trust God, and we know He hears us.
Jesus is King over all things. God allows people to rule for a short time, but one day Jesus will return and set up His perfect kingdom. Everyone who trusts in Jesus will be welcomed into His kingdom, and His kingdom will last forever.
January 5
Obadiah the Prophet
BIBLE PASSAGE: Obadiah
STORY POINT: God promised to restore Israel and rule the earth as King.
KEY PASSAGE: Jeremiah 29:11
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
Like God’s people were mistreated by the people of Edom, Jesus was mistreated by His own people. God will punish sin. Jesus died on the cross to take the punishment we deserve for our sin. We can trust Jesus to make wrong things right.
January 12
The captives came home
BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 1–3
STORY POINT: God kept His promise to bring His people home.
KEY PASSAGE: Jeremiah 29:11
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke.
Zerubbabel led God’s people back to the temple to rebuild it. The temple was the place where God met with His people on earth. Jesus came to earth to rescue God’s people. One day Jesus will return to restore a greater home for all of God’s people, and we will spend eternity with Him.
January 19
The temple was rebuilt
BIBLE PASSAGE: Ezra 4–6;
Haggai STORY POINT: God’s people rebuilt the temple to glorify God.
KEY PASSAGE: Jeremiah 29:11
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke
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. Now God dwells not in the temple, but directly with His people. Jesus provided something better than the temple; He gives us Himself
January 26
Zechariah the prophet
BIBLE PASSAGE: Zechariah
STORY POINT: Zechariah said the Messiah is coming.
KEY PASSAGE: Jeremiah 29:11
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? Jesus perfectly reveals God the Father and fulfills what the prophets spoke
God was going to help His people and give them a different kind of king. Jesus is the King who came and rode humbly on a donkey, just as Zechariah said. Because Zechariah’s prophecy came true in Jesus, we can have hope and forgiveness of sins when we trust in Jesus.
February 2
Esther saved her people
BIBLE PASSAGE: Esther
STORY POINT: God made Esther a queen to protect His people.
KEY PASSAGE: 1 Peter 5:10
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.
God was in control over Haman’s evil plan to destroy the Jews. Like Haman, Satan wants to ruin God’s plan and destroy believers. Satan thought he had won when Jesus died on the cross, but God raised Jesus from the dead and defeated Satan once and for all. All who believe in Jesus are rescued from sin and death.
February 9
The Walls Rebuilt
BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 1–6
STORY POINT: God used Nehemiah to rebuild Jerusalem’s walls.
KEY PASSAGE: 1 Peter 5:10
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.
Nehemiah led the people to rebuild the walls around Jerusalem to protect them from their enemies. Jesus came to protect us from our greatest enemy, sin and death. He died on the cross and rose from the dead to rescue everyone who trusts in Him.
February 16
BIBLE PASSAGE: Nehemiah 8–13
STORY POINT: God’s people repented and promised to be faithful.
KEY PASSAGE: 1 Peter 5:10
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth
God’s Word is powerful. When Ezra read God’s Word, the people loved God more and changed their ways. The Bible says that Jesus is “the Word.” Jesus is God who came to live with people on earth. Jesus has the power to change our hearts.
February 23
Malachi the Prophet
BIBLE PASSAGE: Malachi
STORY POINT: Malachi called God’s people to repent to prepare for the Messiah.
KEY PASSAGE: 1 Peter 5:10
BIG PICTURE QUESTION: Who is in control of everything? God is in control of everything in heaven and on earth.
Malachi was a messenger—a prophet— who told God’s people to repent. Malachi also told about another messenger God would send. This messenger, John the Baptist, would call people to repent and get them ready for a final Messenger, Jesus Christ. Jesus would bring good news of salvation
