Teach Them Jesus with Building Bricks
Nehemiah Rebuilds the Wall
Nehemiah 1:1-6:16; Psalm 127:1 Old Testament PrinciplePrayer
Jerusalem'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.
God hears His people and is the real builder of everything good, so we bring every plan, problem and fear to Him in prayer.
- CreationGod made it
- FallWe broke it
- RedemptionJesus fixes it (this lesson)
- RestorationJesus makes it new
Memory verse
“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain; unless the LORD protects the city, its watchmen stand guard in vain.”
Psalm 127:1 BSB
Christ Connection · Better than
Nehemiah left the king's palace to rebuild a broken city. Jesus left heaven to rebuild broken people. He said, "I will build My church" (Matthew 16:18), and He is building His people into a dwelling place for God (Ephesians 2:19-22), headed for the city "whose architect and builder is God" (Hebrews 11:10).
Matthew 16:18; Ephesians 2:19-22; Hebrews 11:10
The Big Story · Redemption
Israel's sin had led to exile and a city in ruins. But God brought His people home and rebuilt what was broken, a picture of the rebuilding He does through Jesus, who is building a people and a city that will last forever.
Teacher Guide
This version includes:
- Background and context for the passage
- Hidden in Plain Sight: the detail most people miss
- The Christ Connection: how this story points to Jesus
- A 45-minute class plan and prep checklist
- Object lesson: Pray first
- Theo’s Workshop (build challenge): The one-hand wall
- A skit to act out the story
- Review game: Prayer bricks
- Pronunciation help, tips for every age, song ideas and a note for parents
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Preschool (ages 3–5)
We pray, and God helps!
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 4-minute Bible story written for this age
- 3 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Pray and stack, Color the wall builders
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at home, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
Free preview · Kindergarten – 2nd grade
Nehemiah prayed before he did anything, and God helped him rebuild the wall in 52 days. We can pray about everything, because God is the real builder.
Memory verse
“Unless the LORD builds the house, its builders labor in vain.”
Adapted from Psalm 127:1
Start here
Dump the pile of "rubble" on the table. Say, "This used to be a wall. Now it's broken. If you had to fix it, what would you do first?" Let them answer. Say, "Today a man named Nehemiah had a whole city wall to fix. Let's see what he did first!"
Bible story 6 min
Nehemiah worked for a great king. He served the king his cup.
One day his brother came with bad news. "The walls of Jerusalem are broken. The gates are burned."
Nehemiah sat down and cried. For days, he prayed to God.
The rest of the story, discussion questions, songs, Live It and prayer are for members.
Try an activity
One-hand builders 10 min
You’ll need: A tub of building bricks, Baseplates, Pencils
- Each child holds a pencil "sword" in one hand and builds a small wall with the other hand.
- Every few bricks, call "Pray!" and everyone stops to say, "God, help us!" Then keep building.
- Join everyone's walls into one long wall at the end.
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
3rd – 4th grade
When Nehemiah heard Jerusalem's walls were in ruins, he prayed first and kept praying at every step. God opened the king's heart, and the wall was rebuilt in 52 days. Prayer and work go together, because God is the real builder.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 8-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 5 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Prayer at every step, Sound the trumpet
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, at home
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
5th – 6th grade
Nehemiah's rebuilding of Jerusalem's wall was soaked in prayer from start to finish, and the result was so fast that even enemies credited God. It shows that God is the true builder, and points to Jesus, who is building a people and a city that will never fall.
This version includes:
- An opening hook and a 10-minute Bible story written for this age, with a Hidden in Plain Sight moment
- 6 discussion questions
- 2 activities: Nehemiah's prayer blueprint, Pray, plan, build
- 5 “Dasch Digs Up” facts
- Real-life connections: at school, with friends, at church
- Song ideas, Live It, a prayer, and a printable student handout (preview below)
Every lesson, every age, from $25 a month. · Log in
More lessons on Prayer
The same principle in other Bible stories.
Kings and ProphetsDaniel and the LionsDaniel 6:1-28When a law made prayer to God a crime, Daniel kept praying as he always had, and God shut the lions' mouths and kept him safe.Old TestamentPrayer
Kings and ProphetsHannah Prays1 Samuel 1:1-28; 1 Samuel 2:1-11; 1 Samuel 2:18-21Sad and longing for a child, Hannah poured out her heart to God in prayer, and God heard her and gave her Samuel.Old TestamentPrayer
The Church BeginsPeter Escapes PrisonActs 12:1-19; Exodus 12:11King Herod put Peter in prison, chained between soldiers. The church prayed hard for him, and God sent an angel to lead Peter out. When Peter knocked at the door, the praying friends could hardly believe it!New TestamentPrayer