Use Week of: January 26

Unit 17 • Session 4
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? God
speaks to us through Jesus.

TEACH THE STORY EXPERIENCE THE STORY REVIEW THE STORY

(15–20 MINUTES) (25–30 MINUTES) (10+ MINUTES)
PAGE 92 PAGE 94 PAGE 96

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LEADER Bible Study
Zechariah was a priest who had been born in Babylon. He had returned to
Jerusalem with Zerubbabel. At this time, the prophet Haggai was bringing
God’s message to His people. The Judean exiles were struggling to finish
rebuilding God’s temple. In fact, several years had passed without progress
on the temple when God called Zechariah to prophesy to His people.

Zechariah’s message was twofold: first, look back and remember the past.
Second, look forward and prepare for the future. God wanted His people
to learn from the mistakes of their parents and grandparents who had
ignored the prophets’ warnings. Zechariah set out to encourage the people.

The Book of Zechariah is organized into eight visions, four messages,

and two oracles. The visions Zechariah saw each symbolized something
God would do—such as rebuild Jerusalem, judge Israel’s enemies, and
remove national sin. (See Zech. 1–6.) A couple of years later, God spoke
to Zechariah again. This time, God spoke four messages to respond to a
question the people had about fasting. (Zech. 7:3)
4
In the last six chapters, Zechariah changed the subject to the future of God’s
kingdom. Chapters 9–12 are rich with Messianic prophecy; the words
are quoted often in the New Testament. Compare Zechariah 9:9 with
John 12:15; Zechariah 11:13 with Matthew 27:9; and Zechariah 12:10
with John 19:37.

As you teach preschoolers about Zechariah, emphasize God’s promise:

“A king is coming.” Zechariah’s visions were significant to the reality of
God’s people at that time, but a greater reality awaited. Zechariah pointed
to Jesus, the coming deliverer who would be struck and pierced to take
away sin. God would deal with His people’s enemies. He would cleanse
His people. “They will call on my name, and I will answer them; I will
say, ‘They are my people,’ and they will say, ‘The Lord is our God”
(Zech. 13:9). Under the rule of King Jesus, our future is incredibly bright.

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The BIBLE Story
Zechariah the Prophet
Zechariah

When God’s people stopped rebuilding God’s temple, God sent

prophets to give His people a message. Zechariah (ZEK uh RIGH uh)
was one of the prophets who told the people what God said.
God said, “Come back to Me, and I will come back to
you.” God wanted His people to remember
Him and put Him first. “Do not be like
your parents and grandparents and
great-grandparents,” God said.
“I sent prophets to tell them to
stop disobeying Me, but they
did not listen.”
One night, God gave
Zechariah more messages for
His people. The messages
came in eight visions—like
dreams, but Zechariah was
awake. Each vision was a new
message that said what God was
going to do.
Zechariah saw a man on a
red horse. The man rode his horse
around the earth. He looked to see
what was happening. Everything was
quiet. God said He was going to punish His
people’s enemies, and the people would finish
building God’s temple.
Then Zechariah saw four horns. God’s people had four enemies.
Zechariah saw four men. The men would win against the enemies.
Then Zechariah saw a man with a rope. He used the rope to measure

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things. The man tried to measure the city of Jerusalem, but Bible
it was too big. Storytelling Tips
Then Zechariah saw Joshua the priest. Then he saw a • Count on your
golden lampstand and then a flying scroll. fingers: Use the
Then Zechariah saw a woman in a basket. Then he saw subject headings in
four chariots. What strange visions! Everything Zechariah a Bible to help you
number the eight
saw in the visions was a special message from God. visions in the Bible
God told Zechariah, “Make gold and silver crowns. story script. As you
Put them on Joshua the priest.” Joshua looked like a begin each of the
eight visions, hold up
king, but he was not the special king God planned. God that many fingers.
said that the true special king would come one day and Invite preschoolers
bring peace. There would be no more fighting. to hold up that same
number of fingers
“Be happy and shout for joy! Your King is coming,” and to repeat the
God said. “He is a good King. He is riding on a donkey.” number with you.
Use some excitement
in your voice as you
Christ Connection: Zechariah saw that God was going to
count.
help His people and give them a special king. Jesus is the King
who came humbly on a donkey, just like Zechariah said. God • Use props: While
kept His promise to send Jesus. We can trust in Jesus to forgive telling the Bible story,
use blocks, a pillow,
our sins. and a streamer. When
telling about how
God’s people stopped
building the temple,
build with blocks
and suddenly stop.
When mentioning the
visions, lay your head
on the pillow but keep
your eyes open. Shake
a streamer when
telling about Jesus’
coming.

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TEACH the Story
SESSION TITLE: 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? God speaks to
us through Jesus.

Welcome and worship with song

• “God Keeps His Greet preschoolers with a smile. As preschoolers arrive, sing
Promises” song an action song such as “God Keeps His Promises” to engage
• “Great Is Thy
Faithfulness” song and welcome them. Begin worship by leading preschoolers
in the theme song “Great Is Thy Faithfulness.”

Watch or tell the Bible story

• Bible Play a quick listening game. Give a direction for
• “Zechariah the preschoolers to follow. Directions may include: touch your
Prophet” video
(optional)
ears, say the word listen, or jump once and then stop.
• Bible Story Picture SAY • God wanted His people to rebuild the temple.
Poster They started building and then stopped. God sent
• Story Point Poster
prophets like Zechariah to give the people a message.
• Giant Timeline
He wanted the people to listen.
Open your Bible to the Book of Zechariah. Show the
video or tell the Bible story using the provided storytelling
tips. Use the bolded version of the Bible story for young
preschoolers.
• photographs of
leaders as young Practice the key passage and a Bible skill
children Place the key passage marker at Jeremiah 29:11. Invite a
• Bible child to open your Bible to the key passage. Read aloud the
• Key Passage Marker
key passage. Ask leaders to show pictures of themselves as
• Key Passage Poster
• “Jeremiah 29:11” song young children. Prompt preschoolers to say and repeat the

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first part of the verse.
SAY • God always knew His plans for these leaders, when
they were young and even before they were born.
God knows His plan for you now and in the future.
God’s plans for us are good!
Sing the key passage song “Jeremiah 29:11” together.

Learn the big picture question and answer • Big Picture Question
Poster
SAY • Zechariah was a prophet. He told people what
God wanted them to hear. How is Jesus the perfect
Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus. Jesus is
a better prophet than Zechariah. Zechariah said
the Messiah is coming. Jesus is the Messiah! Jesus
rescues us from sin.

Respond through song and prayer

SAY • Zechariah said the Messiah is coming. He saw that • Story Point Poster
God was going to help His people and give them • “Great Is Thy
Faithfulness” song
a special king. Jesus is the King who came humbly • “Speaking to Us”
on a donkey, just like Zechariah said. God kept song
His promise to send Jesus. We can trust in Jesus to • “Wherever You Go”
song
forgive our sins. • offering basket
Sing “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” and “Speaking to Us” as
preschoolers move with the music. Prepare for prayer by
singing “Wherever You Go.” Collect an offering.
SAY • God, You love us. Thank You for sending Jesus, Your
Son. Jesus is the King who came to earth, just like
Zechariah said. Help us turn from our sin and trust
in Him to forgive our sins. Amen.

Transition to experience the story • countdown video

(optional)

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EXPERIENCE the Story
SESSION TITLE: 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? God speaks to us
through Jesus.

Pass the message

Write Be Happy! on a piece of paper. Fold the paper in half.
• copy paper Form a circle. Play music while children pass the paper
• marker around the circle. Periodically stop the music. The child
• “Great Is Thy holding the paper will open it and announce a reason why
Faithfulness” song
(optional) he is happy.
• “Jeremiah 29:11” song SAY • Zechariah said the Messiah is coming. He told
(optional) God’s people to be happy and shout for joy because
the King is coming. Jesus is the King who came
humbly on a donkey, just like Zechariah said. God
kept His promise to send Jesus.

Play a memory game

• paper plates, 10 Write J, E, S, U, S on individual paper plates. Make two
• marker sets of letters. Mix up the plates and lay them face-down in
• large sheet of paper
rows on the floor. Invite children to take turns flipping over
or dry erase board
• marker or dry erase two plates at a time. If they match, the child will remove
marker the plates from the game. Continue play until children find
all matches. Write JESUS on a sheet of paper or dry erase
board. Challenge preschoolers to spell Jesus with the plates.
SAY • Zechariah said the Messiah is coming. God kept
His promise to send Jesus. Jesus is the king Zechariah
told about. He makes peace between God and
people. We can trust in Jesus to forgive our sins.

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Make a crown
Cut 3- by 12-inch strips from yellow or gray construction • yellow or gray
paper. Give each preschooler two strips to decorate with construction paper
• scissors (adult use)
markers, foam shapes, stickers, and jewels. When a child
• clear tape
finishes decorating, tape the two strips together and fit • markers
them to a child’s head to create a crown. • foam shapes
SAY • Zechariah said the Messiah is coming. God told
• stickers
• jewels
him to tell the people to make gold and silver crowns
and put them on Joshua the priest, but Joshua was
not the special king God planned. Jesus is!

Set up a celebration
Give each child a “Jesus Pictures” printable. Guide children • “Jesus Pictures”
to cut apart the pictures. Help children put tape loops on printable, 1 per child
• streamers
the back of their pictures. Prompt them to decorate a space
• blunt-tipped scissors
in the room with streamers and pictures of Jesus. • painter’s tape
SAY • Zechariah was a prophet, but how is Jesus the
perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus. Tip: Pre-cut the
“Jesus Pictures”
Zechariah told the people that God planned to send for younger
the Messiah. Jesus is a better prophet than Zechariah preschoolers.
because Jesus is the Messiah God promised to send.

Enjoy a snack
Post an allergy alert. Draw a happy face on a paper plate for • Allergy Alert
each child. Give each child a cup of cereal. Guide him to • paper plates
• marker
outline the happy face with cereal and then enjoy eating it.
• cereal
SAY • Zechariah saw that God was going to help His people
and give them a special king. He told God’s people to
be happy because Jesus was coming. How is Jesus the
perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus.

Transition to review the story • countdown video

(optional)

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REVIEW the Story
SESSION TITLE: 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? God speaks to us
through Jesus.

Review
Point to the giant timeline as you review today’s Bible story.
• Bible
• Bible Story Picture Ask the following review questions:
Poster 1. What was the name of the prophet in today’s story
• Giant Timeline who told people what God said? (Zechariah)
• Story Point Poster
• Big Picture Question
2. How did God send messages to Zechariah? (in
Poster visions like dreams)
• Key Passage Poster 3. Was Zechariah awake or asleep when God sent him
• “Great Is Thy messages through visions? (awake)
Faithfulness” song
(optional) 4. What will the special king bring? (peace)
• “Jeremiah 29:11” song 5. Who is the special King God promised to send?
(optional) (Jesus)
6. How is Jesus the perfect Prophet? God speaks to
us through Jesus.
SAY • Zechariah was a prophet who told people what
God wanted them to hear. God gave messages to
Zechariah through visions, which are like dreams.
Zechariah said the Messiah is coming. Jesus is
the King who came humbly on a donkey, just like
Zechariah said. God kept His promise to send Jesus.
We can trust in Jesus to forgive our sins.
Sing the theme song “Great Is Thy Faithfulness” or key
passage song “Jeremiah 29:11.”

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Pray
Invite preschoolers to tell you any prayer requests they have.
SAY • God, You sent prophets like Zechariah to tell us
about Your Son, Jesus. Thank You for sending Jesus
who is the best prophet! Jesus is a Prophet and a
King! We cannot wait for the day when Jesus comes
back and rules over everything. Amen.

Missions moment
SAY • Zechariah said the Messiah is coming. • world map
Today, we tell people that the Messiah has come and
will come again! The Messiah is Jesus! Some people
have never heard about Jesus.
Point to Myanmar (west of Thailand) on a world map.
Then point to where you live.
SAY • Myanmar is very far from where we live. If we left
today, we would still not get there by tomorrow.
Many years ago, Adoniram Judson traveled all the
way to Myanmar to tell the people there about Jesus.

Play a review game • Bible Story Picture

Posters for Unit 17
Tape the four Bible story picture for this unit, the key • Big Picture Question
passage poster, and the big picture question and answer Poster
poster to the sides of a lightweight box. Invite children to • Key Passage Poster
• tape
take turns tossing the cube. If the cube lands on a Bible • lightweight box
story picture, ask a question about the story. If it lands on
the key passage, lead the group to repeat the key passage. If Tip: Consider
placing the
it lands on the big picture question, lead the group to say
posters in the
the answer. pockets of a Giant
SAY • God’s plans are good! All along God planned to send Inflatable Game
Jesus to rescue His people from sin. How is Jesus the Cube (005630803)
available at
perfect Prophet? God speaks to us through Jesus. lifeway.com.

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