Haggai — Build God’s House First Preschool Lesson
Preschool lesson (ages 3–6, 20 minutes)
1. Welcome (3 min)
Sit in a circle, greet every child by name and show one thing from the story to touch.
2. The little story (5 min)
Teach the refrain first: “God was with them as they built.”
God’s people had come home to Jerusalem after many years far away. But God’s house, the temple, was still broken. It was just a pile of stones.
The people built nice houses for themselves, with wooden walls inside. But they said, “The time hasn’t yet come to build the LORD’s house.” Not yet, not yet!
So God sent Haggai. Haggai was a prophet – a man who tells God’s words. At that time, a king named Darius ruled over many lands. Haggai brought God’s words to Zerubbabel, the leader of God’s people. He brought them to Joshua, the high priest, too. A priest helps people come to God.
God said, “Is it a time for you to dwell in your houses, while this house lies waste?” Dwell means to live. Lies waste means it is broken and empty.
God said, “Consider your ways. You have sown much, and bring in little. You eat, but you don’t have enough.” Consider your ways means: think about it! Sown means planted seeds.
God said they put on clothes, but no one was warm. And their money went into “a bag with holes in it.” Can you make a hole with your fingers? Oops, the money falls out!
Even the rain stayed away. The dew stayed away too. Dew is the little drops of water on the grass in the morning. The fields were dry, and the grain did not grow well.
Then God said, “Go up to the mountain, bring wood, and build the house. I will take pleasure in it.” Take pleasure means it will make God glad. Up the mountain they would go, to bring down wood. Can you carry a heavy log on your shoulder? Heave-ho!
Zerubbabel the leader listened. Joshua the priest listened. All the people listened. They obeyed the LORD. They knew how great and holy God is.
Then Haggai brought God’s message: “I am with you,” says the LORD. What wonderful words!
God made their hearts ready and eager to work. So they came and worked on God’s house. Bang, bang! God was with them as they built.
About one month later, God spoke again. Some old people had seen God’s house long before. Back then it was big and beautiful. This new one looked so small to them. God asked, “Isn’t it in your eyes as nothing?”
But God said, “Be strong, all you people of the land. Work, for I am with you.” Can you show your strong arms? God was with them as they built.
God said, “Don’t be afraid.” And God said, “The silver is mine, and the gold is mine.” Everything in the whole world belongs to God! God was with them as they built.
God said, “The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former.” That means God’s new house would be even more wonderful than the old one.
And God said, “In this place I will give peace.” God was with his people, and he promised them his peace. God was with them as they built.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think it was like to carry wood down from the mountain?
- Why do you think God wanted his people to build his house?
4. Move (3 min)
Refrain Freeze: move around the room; when you say the refrain, everyone freezes and says it together.
5. Make (4 min)
Draw a line to who said it.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
““I am with you,” says the LORD” — Haggai 1:13 (I am with you → hug yourself; says the LORD → point up high)
Dear God, thank you that you are with us. Thank you that you help us when we work. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God Loves to Come First
Memory verse: “"I am with you," says the LORD.” — Haggai 1:13 · WEB
The Bible story
When God's people forgot to finish His temple, a gentle prophet named Haggai reminded them of the happiest secret: to build God's house first.
Talk about it
- Where did God's people come home to? — Jerusalem
- What lay broken in a heap of stones? — The temple
- What did the people build for themselves? — Fine wooden houses
- Who did God send to speak to the people? — Haggai
- What did the people keep saying about God's house? — "The time has not come yet"
- The people planted many seeds but gathered what? — Only a little food
Where is Jesus in this story?
The people rebuilt God's temple, and God promised its glory would be greater than before (Haggai 2:9). Years later, Jesus stood in the temple courts and said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.” He was talking about his own body (John 2:19–21). Jesus is the place where we truly meet God, and he rose again just as he said.
What God wants to tell us
Sometimes we get so busy with our own things that we forget the One who loves us most. Haggai reminds us that when we put God first — before our games, our worries, and our wishes — our hearts feel full and happy. God wanted His people close, because being near Him is the safest and best place to be. When we make room for God each day, He stays right beside us too.
Prayer
Dear Lord, thank You for loving me and wanting to be close to me. Help me to put You first, even when I am busy, and to make room for You in my heart every day. Thank You for the promise that You are always with me. Amen.
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