20 short stories about God's people coming home and rebuilding God's house: a ruined city, an altar first, tears and shouts of joy, a work that stopped, prophets who woke everyone up, Zechariah's night visions, a golden lampstand, and a God who loves small beginnings โ with a lesson and a memory verse in every story.
๐ God's people had lived far from home for seventy years. Then God moved King Cyrus to send them back to Jerusalem to rebuild God's house! God keeps His promises, and He does great things for us.
โถ Watch the story๐ When God's people arrived, Jerusalem was in ruins, and God's house was just a heap of stones. Many people cried. But God was with them, and they got ready to build again. God is close to us when we're sad, and He helps us start again.
โถ Watch the story๐ Before building houses or walls, God's people built an altar and worshipped God. They put God first! When we put God first in our lives, He takes care of everything else we need.
โถ Watch the story๐ The builders laid a strong foundation for God's house, and everyone praised God with trumpets and songs: He is good; His love lasts forever! We can praise God for every step, and build our lives on Jesus, our strong foundation.
โถ Watch the story๐ When the foundation was laid, young people shouted for joy, but some old men cried because the new house looked smaller than the first one. God understood all their feelings. With God, crying may last for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
โถ Watch the story๐ Unfriendly neighbours tried to scare God's people with mean words and lies, so they would stop building. But God says: Don't be afraid, I am with you. When people are unkind, we can listen to God and keep doing good.
โถ Watch the story๐ God's people stopped building God's house for sixteen years, but built fancy houses for themselves. Things didn't go well. God sent Haggai to say: Think carefully about your ways! It's good to stop and ask: Is God first in my life?
โถ Watch the story๐ God sent Haggai to wake up His people: It's time to build My house! The people listened and obeyed, and God promised: I am with you! God stirred their hearts, and they started building again. God is with us too when we obey Him.
โถ Watch the story๐ In a night vision, God showed Zechariah horses that had looked over the whole earth. God sees everything! Then God spoke kind and comforting words: I love Jerusalem, and My house will be built. God sees us and cares about us too.
โถ Watch the story๐ In a vision, a young man wanted to measure Jerusalem, but God said the city would be too full for walls! God promised: I Myself will be a wall of fire around her, and the glory inside. God protects His people, and His family keeps growing.
โถ Watch the story๐ In a vision, Joshua the high priest stood in dirty clothes that showed the people's sins. But God said: Take off his dirty clothes! I have taken away your sin. They dressed him in clean new clothes. Jesus takes away our sins and makes our hearts clean too.
โถ Watch the story๐ Zechariah saw a golden lampstand with seven shining lamps, fed with oil from two olive trees, so the light never went out. God is the One who keeps His people shining! His Word is a lamp for our feet and a light for our path.
โถ Watch the story๐ Zerubbabel felt weak; the job was so big. Then God's message came: Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit! It isn't our strength or money that builds God's work; it's God's Holy Spirit. When we feel small, God's Spirit helps us.
โถ Watch the story๐ Zerubbabel's problems felt like a giant mountain. But God said: Who are you, O great mountain? You will become flat ground! God promised Zerubbabel would finish His house by grace. With God, our mountain-sized problems can become flat and small.
โถ Watch the story๐ Some people laughed because the new temple looked so small. But God asked: Who dares to despise the day of small beginnings? A tiny seed becomes a tall tree! God loves small beginnings and helps them grow, so we should never give up on small things.
โถ Watch the story๐ Some builders felt discouraged again, but God sent Haggai with another message: Be strong and work, for I am with you! God even said the glory of this new house would be greater than the old one. We can do every job with all our hearts, as if we were doing it for God.
โถ Watch the story๐ Zechariah told the people: Rejoice! Your King is coming, humble and riding on a donkey! Hundreds of years later, Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, just as God had said. Jesus is our King, and He is gentle and kind.
โถ Watch the story๐ When enemies tried to stop the building again, God used King Darius to help instead! At last God's house was finished, and everyone celebrated with great joy. God always finishes what He starts, and we can be glad to go to His house.
โถ Watch the story๐ When God's house was finished, the people held a joyful celebration. They thanked God, remembered how He had saved them, and ate the Passover meal together as one big family. The joy of the LORD is our strength!
โถ Watch the story๐ God's people started small: a few tired families, a heap of stones and a tiny foundation. But with God's Spirit, they built God's house and found great joy! God loves small beginnings. When we are faithful in little things, God does big things.
โถ Watch the storyEach story has 10 short scenes with a storyteller, character voices, music and a memory verse (King James Version in English). ๐ง Choose your language inside the story.