Recognizing God at work

1. Get active

Laughing plank challenge

Plank: Put hands and feet on the ground and keep your whole body straight like a plank. Support your weight on your elbows.

Family members take turns to do a plank while timed with a watch or phone.

Those not planking, make funny faces to make them laugh. The person who planks for the longest time wins.

2. Rest and talk

• Talk about a time when you finished a big task. How did you feel?

Nehemiah’s enemies try to stop the rebuilding of the wall. Despite different attempts to distract them and lie about their work, Nehemiah stays focused on his task.

3. Read the Bible passage

Read Nehemiah 6:15-16.

4. Discuss

Despite all the enemies’ efforts, the wall was completed.

• How do you think they felt after completing the wall in only 52 days?
• What surprises you about their response? (v16)

Make a list of some of the ways you are seeing God at work in your church, your community, and in the world. Draw this symbol 😲 next to the ones that have surprised you.

• What do different people contribute to God’s work?

Chat to God: Pray that those who work against the cause for good, will come to acknowledge God, just as Nehemiah’s enemies did. Individually, call out one of the ways you are seeing God at work. The others respond together with “Please make it happen God”.

Tomorrow we’ll see what happens when the whole nation gathers to hear God’s word read. It starts the most amazing response that finally leads to celebration.