The Gospel Project at Home: Ezekiel Gave Hope

Read Scripture

​Read all or parts of Ezekiel 37 from your Bible or watch the Bible story video.

Preschool Bible Story Video

Elementary Bible Story Video

Talk About Scripture

Have you ever been to a museum that has a skeleton of an extinct animal? It’s incredible to see how the creature might have looked when it was alive. The museum usually puts the animal skeleton in an exhibit that shows where it might have lived and what it might have eaten. But no matter how hard people try, they can never bring that set of bones back to life. It’s just not going to happen! 

Ezekiel was a prophet who spoke God’s message to the people who were exiled. Although this was a hard job for Ezekiel, God gave him a vision. In this vision, God showed Ezekiel a valley of dry bones. The bones represented the people of Israel. Ezekiel prophesied that God would put muscles, tendons, and skin on the bones. He would put breath in them so they would come to life.  

Ezekiel encouraged the exiles. Apart from God, they were dead in their sin. But God was offering them life. He would restore their future. We too are dead in our sin. Apart from Jesus, we are like the dry bones Ezekiel saw. God showed Ezekiel His power to make dead people alive. We see God’s power at the cross, where Jesus died to save sinners. God raised Jesus from the dead, and He gives us eternal life to those who believe in Him. 

God breathed life into dead bones in front of Ezekiel. The apostle Paul said that we are dead in our sins, but God gives us new life in Him when we trust in Jesus. God will forever be the God of all people who trust in Jesus.                       

Pray: God, thank You for giving new life to those who trust in Jesus. We know that sin leads to death—both physical and spiritual—so we praise You for sending Your Son to save us from sin. Amen.

---

Learn Scripture

Preschool Scripture Music Video

Elementary Scripture Music Video

Family Prayer

Mornings: Ask God to give you hope and strength in the areas where you are struggling to trust Him. How does knowing what God through Ezekiel help you to trust Him in your circumstances—good or bad?    

Evenings: Ask God to supply unity and hope for your church. Ask Him to give the people a passion for His Word, a love for others, and a commitment to the church’s mission of making disciples. 

---

Family Activities

For Fun: Use play dough or modeling clay to create people or animals. Ask each family member to describe the creature they made and any details they’d like the family to know about them. After everyone has shared, discuss how these are just playdough creations and don’t really have any life. Explain how the Bible calls our hearts dead in sin—lifeless and without hope—but that Jesus’ death and resurrection bring new life to all who believe in Him. It is God breathing new life into dead hearts to make them come alive!   

To Serve: Visit a retirement home or physical rehabilitation facility. Lead in a game of bingo, sing songs, teach a craft, or just visit with residents. Talk as a family about how your visit can bring joy and hope to others. Before you leave, pray for the residents and ask God to bring hope to their days.    

This is a resource provided by LifeWay. For more great resources, click here.