This lesson teaches children that God is holy and that He wants His people to honor Him by living differently and caring for His house. It works well for children ages 5 to 11 and takes about 20 to 30 minutes, including the story, the verses, and one activity.
Big Idea
God is holy and special, and He invites His people to live in a way that shows they belong to Him. Caring for things that are set apart for God shows that we love Him.
Memory Verse
Leviticus 20:26
You shall be holy to me; for I, the LORD, am holy, and have set you apart from the peoples, that you should be mine.
(WEB)
Teach the children to stand tall with their arms crossed over their chest, then stretch their arms wide as they say the words together. Stretching wide shows how God’s love reaches out, while standing tall reminds us that He is holy and special. Repeat the motions three times until children can say the verse without looking.
The Story: Ezekiel 44 for Kids
Long ago, God’s people lived far from their home, in a place called Babylon. The prophet Ezekiel was one of them, and God gave him many visions to share with the people. In one vision, God brought Ezekiel to the Temple, the special house where God’s people worshiped Him.
Ezekiel saw that the east gate was shut tight. God said, “This gate shall be shut. No one shall go through it, because I, the LORD, the God of Israel, have gone through it.” The gate was closed to show that God’s presence had entered there, and that the gate was set apart for Him alone.
Then Ezekiel saw something amazing. The glory of the LORD filled the whole Temple, and Ezekiel fell on his face in awe. God spoke to Ezekiel and told him to listen carefully, because God wanted His people to know the rules for His house.
God explained that the people had let foreigners into His holy places and had not kept the holy things as they should. God said, “Let that be enough of your wrong ways.” Some of the priests had also gone away from God and followed idols. God still promised to give them work to do, but they would have to carry the weight of their choices.
God then told how the faithful priests, the sons of Zadok, had kept their duty even when others went astray. Because they stayed true, God chose them to come near to Him, to serve at His table, and to wear clean linen clothes when they worked. God said they must keep His holy rules and teach the people the difference between what is holy and what is common.
God also promised to be the inheritance and possession of His priests. The priests would receive gifts from the people as a way of honoring God, and God would bless their homes. God’s people could trust Him to take care of those who served Him faithfully.
Read It Together
Ezekiel 44:4
Then he brought me by the way of the north gate before the house; and I looked, and behold, the LORD’s glory filled the LORD’s house; so I fell on my face.
(WEB)
Point out that Ezekiel fell on his face because the glory of the LORD filled the house. Ask the children what it might feel like to be that close to something so holy and powerful, and remind them that God is still with His people today.
Ezekiel 44:15-16
15 “‘“But the priests the Levites, the sons of Zadok, who performed the duty of my sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from me, shall come near to me to minister to me. They shall stand before me to offer to me the fat and the blood,” says the Lord the LORD. 16 “They shall enter into my sanctuary, and they shall come near to my table, to minister to me, and they shall keep my instruction.
(WEB)
Show the children that God honored the priests who stayed faithful when others did not. Explain that God notices when we keep showing love and obedience, even when the people around us do wrong.
Ezekiel 44:28
“‘They shall have an inheritance. I am their inheritance; and you shall give them no possession in Israel. I am their possession.
(WEB)
Help the children understand that God Himself was the priests’ inheritance. Point out that God is the greatest gift anyone can have, and that He promises to be with those who belong to Him.
Talk About It
- What do you think it means that God is holy, and how is He different from anything else?
- Why do you think God wanted the Temple to be kept clean and special for Him?
- What are some ways we can show respect for God in our church, our home, or our school?
- How did the priests who stayed faithful show that they loved God?
- What does it mean to you that God wants to be your special treasure?
Activity Ideas
Holy Place Drawing
Give each child a sheet of paper, crayons, and markers. Ask them to draw a special place where they like to worship God, such as a church, their bedroom, or a park. Encourage them to add a small detail that shows God is there with them, like a cross, a sun, or a bright light. Talk together about how we can make every place a place to honor God.
Stand Tall for the Holy One Game
Gather the children in a circle and tell them that when you say “holy,” they must stand very tall and still, and when you say “common,” they can wiggle and move freely. Call out words quickly, mixing both, and let them laugh while they learn the difference. Finish by saying the memory verse together while standing tall.
Take-Home Reminder Card
Cut a piece of cardstock into a small rectangle for each child. Help them write or draw one way they will honor God this week, such as helping at home or being kind at school. Show them how to tape the card to a bathroom mirror or their bedroom door. Encourage the family to read the card together at dinner.
Teacher Notes
For adults, this passage shows that God takes His holiness seriously and that He invites His people into a relationship marked by faithfulness and reverence. Ezekiel 44 also reminds us that God rewards faithful service and promises to be the sustaining inheritance of those who trust Him. Adults can see in these verses God’s commitment to His people’s worship and His desire for them to live distinctly.
Avoid suggesting to children that obedience earns God’s love or that the physical details of the Temple rules apply directly to their lives in the same way. Keep the focus on God’s holiness, His faithfulness, and His invitation to love and honor Him, without making children feel they must perform perfectly to be accepted.
A Prayer to Close
Dear God, thank You that You are holy and special, and that You want to be close to us. Help us to honor You in our homes, our school, and our church. Teach us to be faithful like the priests who loved You. Thank You for being our treasure and our home. Amen.
