Note to the Teacher

This lesson focuses on the theme of “The Latter Splendor," inspired by Haggai 2:1-9, encouraging students to recognize God's presence. The icebreaker, “The Best," invites students to share positive stories about themselves. The discussion explores different places we can experience God’s presence. For the activity, students draw images associated with how they can experience God’s presence in places they spend time.

Times are based on a fifty-minute lesson period but may be adjusted.

Icebreaker: The Best (10 minutes)

This icebreaker invites students to tell stories about themselves, offering the best moments from their experiences.

Tell students that you will go around the circle and ask them to answer one of the following questions. Each student can choose which question to answer. After all the students have responded, if you have more time, invite them to select a second question and repeat the process.

The Best Questions:

What was the best haircut you ever had?
What was the best pizza you ever tasted?
What is the best spot in your house to relax?
What is the best song right now?
What is the best assignment a teacher has ever given you?
What is the best compliment you received?

Feel free to add more questions.

Was there anything that all the answers shared in common about why they were “THE BEST”?

Bible Reading (5 minutes)

Before reading, explain to the students that there is a moment in the Bible where the Jewish people were captured and taken into exile. Eventually, they were allowed to return home. This Bible episode happens early in that return period, but the people still felt they couldn’t connect with God because there was no Temple.

Read Haggai 2:1 9.

Discussion Questions (10 minutes)

Themes: God’s presence; awe.

The Israelites felt that God wasn’t able to live among them because God’s presence had always been in the Temple. How does this passage challenge that feeling?
When the first Temple had been built, there was an amazing display of God’s power, and the presence of God filled the Temple with splendor. Look back at the passage to see if you can find where it talks about that. What does it imply?
Where have you experienced God’s presence or a sense of awe? What is your “best” experience with God?
Do you feel like God’s presence is mostly in churches?
When the people returned from exile, they had to rebuild more than the Temple. They had to rebuild their lives, their identity, and rediscover their purpose. How do you rebuild those kinds of things?

Active Learning Activity (20 minutes)

Provide students with art supplies (pencils, paper, markers, etc.). Ask them to think of at least five places where they spend time. Those might include their rooms, school, church, and so on. Once they have named the places, ask them to draw an image for each place that depicts how they might experience God there. They can cover the paper with the drawings and label each one with the location name. After they have completed their drawings, invite them to share at least one place with the rest of the group.

Prayer (5 minutes)

Close with prayer or your group’s weekly blessing.

Supplies:

Art supplies and paper