Watch the Bible story video or read

all or parts of Ezra 7–10; Nehemiah 8 from the Bible.

The Bible is the best-selling book of all time; somewhere between 5 to 7 billion Bibles have been purchased. More than 80 million Bibles will be produced this year!

The Bible is also the most translated book of all time. At least a portion of the Bible has been translated into 3,500 languages! God’s Word continues to spread around the world and change hearts as people hear the truth about Jesus.

Ezra loved to study and teach God’s law. After returning to Jerusalem and promising to follow God, the people of Israel gathered to hear Ezra read from God’s Word. For hours and hours, the people stood and listened to Ezra read. The people cried and repented as God’s Word showed them how they had disobeyed God. Ezra told the people to prepare a feast to celebrate the power of God’s Word.

The Bible is God’s Word to us. From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible shows how our sin separates us from a holy God. It also shows us God’s plan to fix all that is broken by sending His own Son, Jesus, to be the Savior we need. Jesus perfectly obeyed God’s commands, died on the cross in the place of sinners, and rose again to conquer sin and death. As we read the Bible, we learn that forgiveness and salvation is God’s gift to all who believe in Jesus!

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.
Pray: God, Your Word is perfect and powerful! The Bible shows us our sin, but we praise You because it also shows us Jesus and His power to save us from sin.

Help us to understand Your Word and let it change us to honor You more. Amen.

The key passage below is focused on at church. Consider talking about what this passage
means and memorizing it as well.

Family Prayer Time


Mornings

Thank God for the Bible and all it teaches us about His plan to save sinners through Jesus.
What does the Bible show us about our sin?

How does the Bible point us to Jesus as Savior and Lord?

Evenings

Ask God to give you a love for His Word and the help you need to understand it. How does more time reading and memorizing God’s Word help us to love Him and His Word?

Who can help you to understand God’s Word?


Family Activities


For Fun

Throw a party to celebrate God’s work in your family. Decorate, serve dessert, and sing worship songs as a family. Take turns telling stories and naming specific things God has done for you and your family in this past year.

To Serve

Decide as a family to purchase one or more children’s Bibles to make available for kids in your church or community to have their own copy of God’s Word. Pray for the families who will encounter God’s Word because of your donation. Remind kids that people need to hear God’s Word in order to understand and believe the good news of Jesus.