Ezekiel Lesson Plan (B9-L2)

Opening activity

1. Pictionary with:
   • Dry Bones coming to life (Ez. 37:1-14)
   • Healing Water and Trees (Ez. 47:1-12)
   • New City (Ez. 48:30-35)

Background

1. Ezekiel – Priest who became a Prophet
   1. What is the difference between a Priest and Prophet?
      • Prophet – guide for the people (turn back to God, morality, etc)
        1. Righteousness vs Hollow worship
        2. Visions
      • Priest – liturgical worship on behalf of the people
        1. Example of perspective – Chap 40 – detail on worship and temple
2. Historical Background
   1. During Babylonian Captivity
      1. Babylonians exiled groups from the nation together (ie. Jewish community within Babylon)
   2. Temple destroyed
   3. Contemporaries: Jeremiah, Daniel

Lesson

Discussion point  – Vision of Dry Bones

1. What happens in the vision?
   1. First bones attach and muscles given
   2. Second breath came and they lived
2. Represents:
   1. Historical:
      1. whole house of Israel being restored from exile
   2. Christ
      1. Holy Spirit – v14 –

         I will put My Spirit in you, and you shall live, and I will place you in your own land. Then you shall know that I, the Lord, have spoken it and performed it

3. Giving Hope
   1. Do you ever feel “dried up” like the bones in the desert? Everything is gone or wrong.
   2. Ezekiel lived in a difficult time of disappointment, hurt and sadness.
   3. Imagine the Syrian church in the face of ISIS – exile.
   4. How does God give hope in the midst of such destruction?
      1. We see Ezekiel gaining hope through God.
      2. God giving “Life Abundant”
4. This reading is read on Pentecost

Discussion point – Vision of River from house of God

1. What happens in the vision?
   1. Sees 2 rivers proceeding from the temple and healing everything where the flow.
2. Represents: Baptism, Coming of Holy Spirit, Preaching of Apostle’s, Growth of the Church
3. Does healing water flow to us and through us to those around us?
4. This reading is also read on Pentecost

Discussion point – Ezekiel 18 – Our Parents Spiritual life is not ours

1. What makes us come to church? Who encourages our spiritual life?

   1. 19 “Yet you say, ‘Why should the son not bear the guilt of the father?’ Because the son has done what is lawful and right, and has kept all My statutes and observed them, he shall surely live. 20 The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not bear the guilt of the father, nor the father bear the guilt of the son. The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.

2. We are getting to an age where our spiritual life is “ours” not our parents.
   1. We must make our own choice to follow Christ.

Discussion point – Ezekiel 3:16-27 – Watchman

1. What does it mean to be a “watchman”?