The Valley of Dry Bones

Explain to Children How the Holy Spirit Renews Folks

Prayer: “Lord, give to our children assurance that you will raise them from the dead, in Jesus, to live forever in glory with Him.”

Choose any of these children's learning activities.

Let an older child or teacher read or tell by memory the vision that God gave to Ezekiel about a valley covered with dry bones (Ezekiel 37:1-14). First ask the children to listen carefully to find how God gave to the people of Israel hope that He would save them, as He promised by the prophet Ezekiel.

Ask these questions after relating the story. (Tell answers only if it is needed.)
Who showed to the prophet a valley covered with bones?

Answer: See verse 1.

· What did Ezekiel hear when he prophesied to the bones?

Answer: See verse 7.

· What did God’s breath cause the bones to do?

Answer: See verse 10.

· Whom did the bones represent?

Answer: See verse 11. These were the bones of his people.

· What did God promise to give to his people so that they could live again?

Answer: See verse 14.

Dramatize parts of the story.

· Arrange with the leader of the main congregational worship for the children to present this drama.

· Use your time with the children to prepare it.

· You do not have to use all the parts.

· Let older children or adults play these parts:

Narrator. Summarize the story and help the children remember what to say and do.

Voice of God

Ezekiel

· Let younger children play these parts:

Bones. Lie on the floor with your eyes shut.

Wind.

The Vision of the Dry Bones

Narrator: Tell or read the vision from Ezekiel 37:1-14. Then say, “Hear what God says.”

Voice of God: “Ezekiel, I want to show you the future of my people. Look at this valley covered with bones. Do you think the bones can live again?”

Ezekiel: “Only you know that, Lord.”

Voice of God: “Tell the bones that I will gather these bones together and give them breath.”

Ezekiel: “Dry bones, you will live!”

Bones: (Make rattling noises and come together while still lying on the floor with your eyes shut.)

Ezekiel: “Now the Lord will breathe His Spirit into you and you will live. Wind, blow!”

Wind: Blow hard toward the bones.

Bones: Jump up and stand straight like soldiers. Say, “The Lord has given us life!”

“We praise the One and Only Almighty God!”

“The Almighty raises the dead to live with Him in Glory, forever!”

Narrator or older child. Thank all who helped with the drama.

Ask questions. If the children dramatize this story for the adults, let them also ask the adults the same questions that are listed above.

Ask: What are other examples of promises that God has made to us that will be fulfilled in the future? (Let the children or adults give examples.)

Draw a big picture of bones or of a skeleton.

· You can cut the big picture you made into big pieces and let the children put them together again, like a puzzle.

· Let the children copy the picture.

· Let older children help the younger.

· Let the children show their pictures to the adults at the next worship time, or at home.

· The children can explain to the adultes that the bones illustrate how God’s Spirit can change any person, no matter how bad they are.

· The bones also remind us that God will raise us from the dead to be with Him forever in glory.

· We receive eternal life only through Jesus because He alone took our place, paid the penalty for our sins and took our shame upon Himself. Then He rose from the dead, in order to bring us with Him. He made the one way for us to follow.

Memorize 2 Chronicles 7:14.

Recite Poetry: Let two children each recite one of these verses from Jeremiah 31:33, 34.

Have older children write poems, songs or dramas about how the Holy Spirit gives us life.
Prayer: “Dear Lord, you alone are powerful enough to make dry bones get up and walk again. You will breathe life into us after we are dead. We have been spiritually dead in our sins, but you have given us new, holy life that lasts forever.”