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The Gates of Jerusalem · Lesson 3

The Gates of Jerusalem: The Old Gate

Nehemiah 3:5-12; Nehemiah 3:27; Jeremiah 6:16; Hebrews 13:8; 1 Corinthians 3:11 Old Testament PrincipleObedience

Shallum and his daughters setting stones in the wall near the Old Gate while a goldsmith and a perfume maker carry stones nearby.

Next along Nehemiah's wall came the Old Gate. Builders gave it new beams and doors. They built the wall back on its old foundations. Some important men refused to help, but goldsmiths, perfume makers and a ruler's daughters picked up stones. God's way is like that old gate. It's not good because it's old. It's good because it's God's. Jesus never changes, and He is the foundation we build our lives on.

God's way is good because it's His, and Jesus never changes. We obey Him by walking in His way and building our lives on Him, even when people say it's old-fashioned.

  1. CreationGod made it
  2. FallWe broke it
  3. RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
  4. RestorationJesus makes it new

Memory verse

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”

Hebrews 13:8 BSB

Christ Connection · Picture

The New Testament doesn't mention the Old Gate. But it's a good picture to remember God's "ancient paths," where the good way is (Jeremiah 6:16). Jesus is that way (John 14:6). He is "the same yesterday and today and forever" (Hebrews 13:8), and He is the only foundation worth building on (1 Corinthians 3:11).

Hebrews 13:8; John 14:6; 1 Corinthians 3:11

The Big Story · Redemption

God rebuilt His people on the old foundations of His promises, and He sent Jesus, who never changes, to be the one foundation for everyone who trusts and follows Him.

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Teacher guide plus handouts for preschool through 6th grade. Members can read the full lesson and download everything.

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Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade

At the Old Gate, Nehemiah's builders put up new doors and built on the old foundation stones. Some rich men wouldn't help. But a gold maker, a perfume maker and a dad with his daughters picked up stones. God's way is good because it's God's. Jesus never changes. We obey Him, even when others don't.

Start here

Ask, "What's the oldest thing in your house? Does it still work?" Let kids share. Say, "Today's gate is called the Old Gate. And we'll meet some very surprising builders."

Bible story 6 min

Nehemiah's builders kept going around the wall. Next they came to the Old Gate.

Some men from a town called Tekoa got to work. But their rich leaders said, "No. We won't help." They folded their arms.

Two men fixed the Old Gate. They put in big beams. They hung new doors.

The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.

Try an activity

Build on the line 8 min

You’ll need: Building blocks

  1. Put a strip of tape on the floor as the "old foundation." Teams build a wall of blocks right on top of the line. Then ask a review question for each extra block. Say, "We build on God's good old way!"
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More lessons from this story

Same Bible story, a different principle.

With Building BricksNehemiah Rebuilds the WallNehemiah 1:1-6:16; Psalm 127:1Jerusalem's walls lay in ruins. Nehemiah prayed, and God opened the way for him to go and rebuild. He prayed at every step while the people worked, and in just 52 days the wall was finished. Everyone could see that God had done it.Old TestamentPrayer

More lessons on Obedience

The same principle in other Bible stories.

With Building BricksThe Tower of Babel: ObedienceGenesis 9:1; Genesis 11:1-9; John 6:38After the flood, God told Noah's family to spread out and fill the earth. But years later, people stayed together in one place and said, "Let's build a tower up to the sky, so we will not be scattered." They used baked bricks and tar to build a city and a tower. God saw what they were doing. He mixed up their language so they could not understand each other, and they had to stop building. Then God spread them out over the whole earth, just as He had planned. Obedience means doing what God says, because His plan is good.Old TestamentObedienceKings and ProphetsGod Calls Samuel1 Samuel 3:1-21When God's word was rare in Israel, God called the boy Samuel by name, and Samuel learned to say, "Speak, for Your servant is listening."Old TestamentObedienceThe Ten CommandmentsExodus 19:1-20:21; Exodus 31:18; Matthew 22:34-40God rescued His people from slavery in Egypt. Then at Mount Sinai He gave them Ten Commandments, showing them how to love Him and love each other. God's rescue came first, and His good commands show the rescued how to live.Old TestamentObedienceJosiah Finds God’s Word2 Kings 22:1–23:25; 2 Chronicles 34:1-33Josiah became king when he was only eight. Years later, workers fixing the temple found God's Word, which had been lost. When Josiah heard it, he was sorry for how his people had disobeyed. He read it to everyone, promised to obey it with all his heart and led the people back to God.Old TestamentObedienceSeeing God's WorldGod’s Design for FamilyDeuteronomy 6:4-9; Ephesians 6:1-4; Psalm 68:5-6Before Israel entered the Promised Land, Moses told parents to love God with all their hearts and to talk about His words at home all day long. Later Paul wrote to children, "Obey your parents in the Lord." God designed the family, and families grow strong when they build on His Word.Old TestamentObedienceJesus the KingJesus Is BaptizedMatthew 3:1-17Jesus came to John to be baptized in the Jordan River, and God the Father said, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," as the Spirit came down like a dove.New TestamentObedience