Not by Might, but by My Spirit 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 would help them finish his house.”
Zechariah was a prophet – a man who tells God’s words. In his days, God’s people were building God’s house again. Their leader was Zerubbabel. It was a big, hard job. God would help them finish his house.
One night an angel came to Zechariah. The angel woke him up, like someone waking up from sleep. Can you stretch and yawn? Ahhh! “What do you see?” the angel asked.
Zechariah looked. He saw a lampstand, all of gold. A lampstand holds lamps up high so they can shine. On top was a bowl for oil, and seven lamps. Let’s count them: one, two, three, four, five, six, seven!
Next to it were two olive trees. One stood on the right, and one on the left. Olives are little fruits full of oil. Golden oil flowed out for the lamps.
“What are these, my lord?” Zechariah asked. “Don’t you know what these are?” said the angel. “No, my lord,” said Zechariah.
Then the angel gave God’s message for Zerubbabel. “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit,” says the LORD of Armies. Might and power mean being big and strong. But God’s Spirit would do it. God would help them finish his house.
Nobody can see God’s Spirit. But God’s Spirit is stronger than anyone. He can do what no strong man can do.
God said, “Who are you, great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you are a plain.” A plain is flat ground. The hard job was big like a mountain. But God would make it flat! Can you make a big mountain with your arms? Now make it flat!
God said Zerubbabel would bring out the capstone. The capstone is the very last stone, the top stone. Then everyone would shout, “Grace, grace, to it!” Grace means God’s kindness. Let’s shout it together: “Grace, grace!”
God said, “The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house. His hands shall also finish it.” The foundation is the bottom part of a house. The same hands that started would finish! God would help them finish his house.
God said, “Who despises the day of small things?” To despise means to think something is not worth anything. A small start is not too small for God.
God said that one day Zerubbabel would hold a plumb line in his hand. A plumb line is a string with a little weight on the end. Builders use it to make walls straight.
And the seven lamps? God said, “These are the LORD’s eyes.” God’s eyes go back and forth over the whole earth. God sees everything, everywhere!
Then Zechariah asked about the two olive trees. He asked the angel – and then he asked again!
The angel said, “These are the two anointed ones who stand by the Lord of the whole earth.” Anointed means chosen by God for a special job.
God’s house would be finished – not by big muscles, but by God’s Spirit. God helps with big jobs and with small ones. God would help them finish his house.
3. Talk together (3 min)
- What do you think the seven gold lamps looked like when they were shining?
- What big job would you like God to help you with?
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)
Color the 7 lamps and the 2 olive trees.
6. Verse and prayer (2 min)
“Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit” — Zechariah 4:6 (Not by might → shake your head; nor by power → make strong arms, then let them drop; but by my Spirit → wave your hands softly like the wind)
Dear God, thank you that your Spirit helps us. Thank you that no job is too big for you. Amen.
Lesson for older kids (ages 6–10)
Big idea: God helps us by His Spirit
Memory verse: “"Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit," says the LORD of Armies.” — Zechariah 4:6 · WEB
The Bible story
An angel wakes the prophet Zechariah to show him a glowing golden lampstand and share God's gentle promise: big things happen by His Spirit, not by our strength.
Talk about it
- Where had God's people come home to? — Jerusalem
- Who came to Zechariah one quiet night? — An angel
- What did Zechariah see shining in the dark? — A golden lampstand
- How many little lamps were on the lampstand? — Seven
- What grew beside the lampstand? — Two olive trees
- What flowed from the trees to keep the lamps lit? — Golden oil
Where is Jesus in this story?
God promised to help His people by His Spirit, not by their own strength, and that same promise came fully true in Jesus. Jesus is the true Light of the world who shines in every dark place and never goes out, and before He returned to heaven He sent the Holy Spirit to live in our hearts and help us every day. Just like the oil that kept the lamps glowing, God's Spirit keeps our love for Jesus shining bright.
What God wants to tell us
Sometimes a job feels too big and we feel too small, just like Zechariah and Zerubbabel with their broken temple. God's gentle promise is that we do not have to do everything by our own strength. Just as the little lamps were kept bright by oil flowing from the trees, God fills us with His Spirit and helps us finish good things. When the job looks like a huge mountain, we can trust that God is with us and He will make the way smooth.
Prayer
Dear God, thank You that I do not have to be big and strong all by myself. When jobs feel too hard, please fill me with Your Spirit and help me shine like a little lamp. Thank You for always keeping Your promises. Amen.
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