Daniel in the Lions’ Den

Scripture: Daniel 6:1-28

Theme: Faithfulness to God may cost everything

Age Group: PreK-K (Ages 3-5)

Overview

Lesson Overview: “God’s Strong Hands” Little builders, today we’ll meet Nehemiah, a man who dreamed of rebuilding something broken! God gave him a big job, but He promised to go with him every step of the way. Just like Nehemiah, God wants to help YOU feel brave and strong when you do things for Him, even if they seem hard at first! God’s Plan for Nehemiah Nehemiah looked at the walls of Jerusalem, they were crumbling, and the city felt lonely. But God whispered, “I see your heart, and I’ll help you!” Nehemiah prayed (just like you can pray too!), asked God for strength, and said, “Let’s rebuild together!” Sometimes, God uses us to help others, and that’s wonderful! Building with God’s Help Imagine digging holes and carrying stones all day, it’s tiring, but Nehemiah didn’t give up! The enemies even tried to stop him (like a big, loud boo!), but Nehemiah kept working, trusting God. “God gives us work to do,” He said, “and He walks beside us.” Even on rainy days or when things feel slow, God is right there, just like a superhero! Wonder Together! Today, ask God to give you one small way to help (like sharing your toys, cleaning your room, or praying for a friend). Remember: “God’s work is never done alone!” When you finish, give a big hug to someone, just like Nehemiah hugged his friends after rebuilding! What do you think God would say to YOU? Teacher Tips: – Use sand/construction toys for hands-on activity. – Sing “God is Great” or “Trust in God” to reinforce God’s presence. – End with a prayer: “Thank You, God, for helping Nehemiah, and for helping ME!”

Bible Story

Nehemiah Builds a Strong Wall

Once, long ago, Jerusalem was sad and broken. The city’s walls were gone, like a big, empty circle in the dirt. People cried, “Oh, how lonely our homes feel without a wall!” But Nehemiah, a kind man, heard their tears. He prayed to God, “Oh, God, please help me make the walls strong again!”

God smiled at Nehemiah’s heart. He gave him a special plan, and Nehemiah started working. With big sticks and strong tools, he and his friends dug deep trenches and built stone walls. “Watch how we stack bricks, one by one!” they cheered. The wall grew taller, wider, just like God wanted it to be. Soon, it was strong enough to keep people safe.

But some jealous men whispered, “How can they rebuild the wall? God won’t like that!” They even tried to trick Nehemiah into giving up. “Run away!” they said, but Nehemiah stayed brave, “God is with us, so we will keep working!” With faith and teamwork, they finished the wall in just 52 days, faster than they thought!

This story shows us that when God leads us, He gives us strength. Just like Nehemiah, we can work together with faith to build strong walls, for our hearts, our communities, and our homes! “Let’s pray and believe, and trust God to guide us!”

Activities

  1. Draw a Wall: Sit with the kids. Say, “Imagine Nehemiah and his friends wanted to rebuild a broken wall. Let’s draw one together!” Have them draw a long, straight line on their paper to be the wall.
  2. Cut and Glue Strips: Give each child 5, 10 strips of paper. Ask, “How can we make our wall strong like Nehemiah’s teamwork?” Let them cut and glue the strips on top of the wall.
  3. Decorate with Wonder: Now, add fun details like flowers, animals, or animals like lions (from Nehemiah 6:19). Say, “What makes our wall special? Let’s use our crayons to make it shine!”
  4. Share with Nehemiah’s Spirit: When done, ask, “Who worked together to build the wall? Can we do that too?” Have them share their creations with a friend.
  5. 2. “Lion’s Roar Team Challenge”
  6. Build a Tower: Give each group 1, 2 boxes. Say, “Nehemiah faced lions and bulls, but he trusted God. Let’s build a tower together!” Have them use tape to glue boxes on top of each other.
  7. Add Strength: Ask, “How did Nehemiah’s team work together? They took turns!” Have kids take turns helping their group stack boxes higher.
  8. Draw Lions or Animals: Now, decorate the tower with lions or other animals (from Nehemiah 6:19). Say, “God is our protector, just like Nehemiah’s friends believed!”
  9. Shout “Hoorah!” When finished, cheer together! Ask, “What did we learn? Teamwork makes dreams come true, just like Nehemiah!”
  10. Tip: End both activities with a prayer, like “God, help us work together like Nehemiah’s friends!”

Discussion Questions

  1. Here are four open-ended questions for preschool and kindergarten children based on Nehemiah Rebuilds the Walls:
  2. What do you think happened to the old walls? (Let them guess what might have been broken or left behind.)
  3. “When Nehemiah saw the walls, they were broken and sad. What do you think made them so weak? Did the people stop caring, or was it something else? Wonder together: What if you saw a big, tall fence broken down? What would you do to fix it?”*
  4. How did Nehemiah and his friends work together? (Encourage them to think of teamwork and bravery.)
  5. “Nehemiah told the people to build back the walls one brick at a time. What do you think made them want to try? Did they feel brave, or did they feel scared? Wonder: How do you and your friends help others work together when something big needs fixing?”*
  6. What did the people say when they were scared? (Talk about courage and praying for help.)
  7. “Some people were afraid to start building, but Nehemiah reminded them, ‘We are strong!’ What did he say would help them? Wonder: What do you say when you’re afraid to try something new? Do you pray like Nehemiah did?”*
  8. Why was rebuilding the walls important? (Connect the story to caring for what matters.)
  9. “The walls kept the people safe and happy. What keeps your home or your neighborhood safe? Wonder: How can you help make something special, like a park or a house, stronger and better, just like Nehemiah did?”*
  10. Each question invites wonder, encourages sharing ideas, and ties the story to everyday experiences. Would you like any adjustments to match a specific focus?

Prayer Focus

Prayer for Wonder and Strength Dear God, we come to You with big hearts and small hands, just like Nehemiah, who saw a wall broken and felt so sad. Help us to see the world with wonder, like Nehemiah saw the empty walls and wondered, “How can we fix this?” Show us how to work together, just like he did with his friends. God, we need Your strength, like Nehemiah had when he stood tall and brave, even when the people said, “No, we won’t help!” Give us courage to stand up, just like he did, and trust You to guide us. We thank You for the walls we build, big or small, strong or weak, so our homes and hearts feel safe and full of love. Help us rebuild what’s broken in our world, with kindness and faith, just like Nehemiah rebuilt the walls with faith and teamwork! Amen! Prayer tip for the teacher: Read the story of Nehemiah aloud while praying this prayer, pointing to pictures or hands raised to “build” together. End by asking kids: “What’s one thing we can rebuild today with God’s help?”

Missions Spotlight

In post-conflict Rwanda, churches are rebuilding after the 1994 genocide. Nehemiah’s story of rebuilding broken walls speaks powerfully to Rwandan believers who are literally and spiritually rebuilding their nation.

To the Cross

Nehemiah rebuilt the broken walls of Jerusalem with the enemy attacking from all sides. Jesus is building His Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it (Matthew 16:18). We are coworkers with God, rebuilding what sin has broken.

Teaching Tips

  • Use Movement to Tell the Story: Since children at this age learn be
  • Divide into Small Groups for Crafts: With only 3-10 children, it is
  • Ask “Big” Questions: Don’t ask complex theology. Ask simple questio
  • Involve the Volunteers to Help: Since the children are very young,

Family Take-Home

Here’s a simple summary for families: Nehemiah, a Jewish leader in exile, feels sad when he hears about Jerusalem’s broken walls and asks God for help. With courage, he gathers people to rebuild the city’s defenses as God leads them, showing faith and teamwork in restoring what was lost. (Perfect for a quick discussion or take-home note!)

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