Catechism Companion: Teacher s Guide (Year 2- Fall)

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2 In this guide you will find suggestions for how this curriculum can be used to complement a traditional Lutheran year of confirmation. The Living the Word curriculum itself is written to be ecumenical in use, so this Lutheran companion specifically offers connections to Luther s Small Catechism that would be helpful to those teaching confirmation classes. The suggestions that are given here are based on the assumption that a confirmation group may have approximately two hours per week of instruction. This may be in one single session or divided up throughout the week. (For example, some settings may provide instruction for an hour on Sunday mornings during the Sunday School hour and then meet again on Wednesday nights.) This companion guide suggests a flow of activities for the first hour that focus mainly on the Bible story, referring to activities that are found in the Living the Word: Youth Teacher s Guides. Where there are activities that are particularly appropriate for their connection with the Small Catechism, these are noted. The second hour suggestions help guide conversation and activity more deeply into the Small Catechism and Lutheran theology. Included in the second hour suggestions are student pages. These student pages are designed to be compiled in a booklet or folder that will become a resource for your students. If you are meeting with your group in a single session, the Youth Page from the Living the Word: Teaching Youth God s Story lesson plan may also be kept in the same binder or folder. If you are meeting at separate times, you may choose to keep them separate. The choice is yours. Feel free to make adjustments as is appropriate to your own setting. There are plenty of activities within the Living the Word: Youth teachers guide to accommodate programs in which you may have more time to fill. You may also always cut back to simply doing the core elements of the lesson and/or the catechism focus at any time. Below you will find a schedule of lessons and the corresponding Small Catechism focus. In the course of the 33 lessons, all sections of the Small Catechism are presented. You will notice, however, in looking through the calendar that the Apostles Creed articles are separated out and spaced throughout the year. This allows for the catechism to be presented in a timeline that matches more closely with the texts of the Narrative Lectionary. You will also find on the calendar a Memory Challenge for most weeks. Churches who challenge (or require) their youth to memorize the Small Catechism may use this guide to select memory work that corresponds to each lesson. May God bless this year of study with your precious youth! Rev. Sarah Nye Writer 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 2

God is the source of all life. Through God s gift of breath, life entered the world.

God intended that we would live in this loving relationship forever.

The question of what God would do about sin fills the remainder of Scripture.

What does God do about sin? What is forgiveness all about? How do we receive it?

those very questions were important enough to risk his life to share the answer he learned

If your congregation is using only the LtW: Youth curriculum, consider inviting other ages and

Distribute & Read Student Book Pages 1-2.

But the relationship was quickly broken. Ask a student to read aloud Genesis 3:1-8.

6 God is the source of all life. Through God s gift of breath, life entered the world. In goodness, God provided that life should flourish in God s care and protection. God intended that we would live in this loving relationship forever. But that relationship was broken when sin entered the world. The question of what God would do about sin fills the remainder of Scripture. It has also filled the hearts and minds of Christians throughout the centuries. What does God do about sin? What is forgiveness all about? How do we receive it? For Martin Luther, the author of the Small Catechism that we will spend this year studying, those very questions were important enough to risk his life to share the answer he learned from reading the Bible. First Hour: Have your students join in the Cross+Gen lesson! If your congregation is using only the LtW: Youth curriculum, consider inviting other ages and groups to participate with you in this first lesson. Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Pages 1-2. God created the world to be in relationship with God s self. But the relationship was quickly broken. Ask a student to read aloud Genesis 3:1-8. Materials & Supplies: 1. Copies of Luther s Small Catechism (1 per student to use throughout this year of study) 2. Bars of soap (1 per student, plus a couple extras) 3. Chalk 4. Markers 5. Toothpicks 6. Butter Knives 7. Paint or stamp pad ink 8. Optional: Cheese slicer (if needed to smooth the bars of soap) 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 6

7 They hid from God. The beloved people that God had lovingly breathed into life hid at the sound of God s footsteps. The relationship was broken. What was God to do about this? That is the story of the rest of the Bible. Use the following questions to begin conversation. This is an opportunity to get an idea for what information your students already know about the scope of the biblical story. o What do you know about the story of what God did about sin? o Read Romans 5: What do you think each of these phrases mean? Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death came through sin, and so death spread to all because all have sinned But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died through the one man s trespass, much more surely have the grace of God and the free gift in the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, abounded for the many. o Who is Jesus Christ? Note: If you have a class who may not have had previous experience hearing about Jesus, spend some time thinking before class about how you could be prepared to describe who Jesus is using your own words and experience. What will be most meaningful to the youth in your context to hear about your savior? 2. Distribute Student Book Page 3. Romans 5:12 talks about the free gift of grace given through Jesus. We know that God eventually dealt with sin by giving Jesus. Jesus was born, lived, died, and rose so that our sins would be forgiven. This is what we preach and teach in our church. But there was a time, a long time ago, 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 7

when people couldn t read the Bible for themselves to hear the good news of forgiveness that Jesus gives. Let s read this story of what happened. Ask a student to read Student Book Page 3.

8 when people couldn t read the Bible for themselves to hear the good news of forgiveness that Jesus gives. Let s read this story of what happened. Ask a student to read Student Book Page 3. Martin Luther wrote the Small Catechism so that youth and their families could learn about the Christian faith and the free gift of forgiveness and life that is given through Jesus. Luther wanted everyone to know that God is all about restoring our relationship through Jesus Christ! This year we will be studying the Small Catechism so that we will know more about God s work for us and God s vision for our relationship with God and with each other. 3. Activity Idea: Small Catechism Woodcuts 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 8

9 Distribute copies of Martin Luther s Small Catechism to each student. Flipping through your copy of the Small Catechism, what do you notice? What topics are included? This is a good time to point out to students each of the five main parts of the catechism: The Ten Commandments, The Apostles Creed, The Lord s Prayer, The Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and The Sacrament of Holy Communion. In Martin Luther s first catechism there were also prayers included and some simple worship service outlines. Also, the earliest versions of Martin Luther s catechism included illustrations. These were woodcut pictures of Bible stories. Luther included Bible references throughout the catechism and the woodcuts illustrated these stories alongside the topics of the catechism. Note: You may wish to show some examples of the types of woodcuts that were included in the earliest printings of the Small Catechism such as this one: Luther-Brosamer-1550.jpg You may also wish to show a demonstration of how these woodcuts would have been made. Search YouTube or use this link to see an example of how this type of illustration would have likely been done in Luther s day. We are going to be learning the catechism and Bible stories alongside each other throughout this year too. Throughout this year we will also be spending time thinking about how these stories and the Christian faith that we learn about in the Small Catechism relate to our daily lives. These copies of the Small Catechism are yours to keep and use throughout this year. So, today we have a project to make them your own! I think they need some illustration. We don t have the time today to make woodcuts the way that they would have in the 1500s, but there is a modern day version that we can try Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 9

10 Distribute copies of Student Book Page 4, which gives direction for making soap woodcuts. You may ask students to make decorative prints of their initial to put on their books (this serves as a good introductory activity as you learn each other s names) or you may ask students to make a carving of picture to represent today s Bible story Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 10

When the Lord appeared to Abraham, Abraham looked up and saw three men. This passage of Scripture is often used to point to the triune nature of God.

As they have studied and prayed and agreed on certain things, they have written them down in statements of faith called creeds. One of the oldest and simplest of these creeds is the Apostles Creed.

In learning this creed, we are introduced to the triune God who creates, redeems, and empowers us!

11 When the Lord appeared to Abraham, Abraham looked up and saw three men. This passage of Scripture is often used to point to the triune nature of God. God is one God but in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christians throughout the centuries have struggled to put into words our understanding of the triune God. As they have studied and prayed and agreed on certain things, they have written them down in statements of faith called creeds. One of the oldest and simplest of these creeds is the Apostles Creed. The Apostles Creed is divided into three parts. Each of the parts has to do with one person of the Trinity. In learning this creed, we are introduced to the triune God who creates, redeems, and empowers us! First Hour: Into the Story Learning the Story Living the Story Extending the Learning Activities * In this first hour, consider using Trinity Music (Mixed Media), Desert Hospitality (The Competitive Edge), or Welcome the Stranger! (Simply Serving). Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Pages 5 & Activity Idea: Entertaining Angels (Hands On from Living the Word: Youth Curriculum) Introduce the idea that this icon is a way this artist, Andrei Rublev, expressed in visual form what we use words to express when we say the Apostles Creed Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 11

12 Follow the instructions for the Entertaining Angels (Hands On) activity having students create an icon of the sketch they made on Student Book Page Distribute & Read Student Book Page 7. We will be learning about each section of the Apostles Creed one at a time throughout this year. Beginning next week we ll be focusing on the first article of the Apostles Creed. As you look at the Creed even now, though, what parts of the creed do you have questions about? What are things that you would like to know more about? Keep these pages somewhere close by so that students can add questions throughout the year. Periodically peek at these lists to be sure that you are addressing students thoughts and questions. It is always okay to come back to a question later, seek out your pastor and/or another resource to help address particularly challenging questions, and to acknowledge that some things of God are a mystery! 4. Activity Idea: Come, Join the Dance of Trinity Check your hymnal or search online for the words to the hymn Come, Join the Dance of Trinity. What parallels does your group notice between this hymn and what we confess in the Apostles Creed? If you have a particularly musical group, consider learning this song and leading it in an upcoming worship service. If your group is not particularly musical, consider using the text of this hymn as a closing prayer Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 12

13 No one deserves God s blessing, but it this was especially true of Jacob. Jacob was a lying, cheating, manipulating momma s boy who lied to his own father as he was dying and alienated his brother to the point where he had to flee for his life. Yet, God provided for him. God provided for his family, too. God even extended to this ridiculously undeserving schemer the promise first given to his grandfather Abraham that through his family all the nations of the world would be blessed. Martin Luther writes in his explanation to the first article of the Apostles Creed that we do not deserve the goodness that God gives us. This is certainly true. For Luther, the best response to God s undeserved goodness was to thank, praise, serve, and obey God. This is what Jacob did after that night spent wrestling with God. How does our wrestling match end? What do we have to give thanks and praise for? How might we serve and obey God? First Hour: Second Hour: Into the Story Learning the Story Living the Story Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Page 8. We have to back up just a bit to understand just who Jacob was. First of all, you remember Abraham from last week. He s the one who had the triune God show up and visit him to announce the birth of a baby. Well, that baby was born and grew up and had two sons of his own. One of those sons 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 13

14 was Jacob. The other was Esau. Jacob and Esau were twins. Ask a student to read the story of Jacob and Esau s birth from Genesis 25: The brothers did not get along! In those days the older brother was supposed to get the better inheritance. But Jacob got Esau to give away what was supposed to be his! Ask a student to read the story of the selling of the birthright from Genesis 25: Things only got worse for Esau. He was even tricked out of his father s death bed blessing. Ask students to read this part of the story from Genesis 27:1-29. Esau was clearly not happy about what had happened! Ask a student to read Genesis 27:41. In fact, Jacob had to run for his life! A long time passed before Jacob and Esau saw each other again. And it was the night just before Jacob was going to meet Esau that God met him. This is the story that we read earlier today. If necessary, read again the assigned text for this week, Genesis 32: Jacob certainly did not deserve God s protection or God s help, but God gave it. Martin Luther writes in the meaning to the first article of the Apostles Creed that we don t deserve the protection and help that God gives us either. We too are selfish. There are times when we are guilty of manipulating, or cheating, or lying, or being uncaring about what belongs to someone else. Even though we do these things, God still provides for us. Luther says the best way to respond is to thank, praise, serve, and obey God! 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 14

15 2. Activity Idea: Thank, Praise, Serve, and Obey Distribute Student Book Page 9. Give students time to jot down their notes of stupid things Jacob did and stupid things they do. While they work, give each student a spoonful of bone shaped candy. (These candies are available from party supply stories or online. Different brands come in a variety of colors. Pick a brand that comes with four different colors of candies.) Do not let students eat their candy yet! After Jacob (Israel) wrestled with God, he walked with a limp because his hip was put out of joint. With every step he took, Jacob was reminded of that night that God came to him. Jacob knew from that time on that God was with him wherever he went. He even later went back and built an altar in praise of the God who provided for him. Ask a student to read Genesis 35:1-3. Martin Luther, in the explanation to the first article of the Apostles Creed, says that we too should thank, praise, serve, and obey God for the blessings we receive that we do not deserve. Each of you have a pile of candies in front of you. Just like Jacob s hip served as a reminder of God s blessing, these bones are reminders for us today. For each one of the green candies that are in their pile, ask students to write down one thing that they want to thank God for. For each of the blue candies, ask students to write down one thing that they might do to praise God. For each yellow candy, ask students to write down one way that they might serve God this week. For each orange candy have students write down one thing they are being called to do to obey God Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 15

16 End the class with this prayer, inviting students to contribute one (or more) lines to each of these petitions. Gracious God, we thank you that you have created us and provide all that we need, even though we do not deserve it. Today we especially thank you for.. We will offer our praise to you by Help us to serve you through our service to others in these ways Help us to obey your Word including May our lives, wherever we go, be lived in grateful response to you! Amen Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 16

17 God continues to provide for God s people. When they wound up in slavery in Egypt, God heard their cries and God acted. God sent Moses to lead the people out of bondage and into freedom! Protected in times of danger and guarded from Pharaoh s power, the people were led to safety. God raised up leaders from among God s people to speak God s word and announce God s deliverance. As we continue to study the Reformation and our Lutheran heritage, we recognize that there have been other times in history when God has spoken and empowered bold witness to God s liberating work. Perhaps God is speaking such a liberating word even now! First Hour: 1. Into the Story 2. Learning the Story 3. Living the Story 4. Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Page Activity Idea: Servants of God s Liberating Work Throughout history God has called and equipped individuals to speak God s liberating word. Distribute Student Book Page 11. Each of the people on this list were called to speak God s word. What do you know about each of them? How did they know that they were being called to speak on behalf of God? What did God empower them to do? How did God provide for them and for others through them? What is similar about each of these individuals? What is different? 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 17

18 Give students time to do some research on these individuals. Note: One fun variation of this would be to watch some movie portrayals of these individuals lives. Clips from The Prince of Egypt (1998), Luther (2003), and Selma (2015) may all be appropriate. Often at the baptism of children, parents are asked to promise that they will teach their child the Lord s Prayer, the Apostles Creed, and the Ten Commandments and that they will help their child read and understand Scripture and that they will nurture them in faith and prayer so that they will learn to trust God, proclaim Christ through word and deed, care for others and the world God made, and work for justice and peace. 1 Perhaps your parents made these same promises for you when you were baptized. Thinking about that, how is that you are being called to work for justice and peace right now in your daily life? 1 This is based on the baptismal service from Evangelical Lutheran Worship Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 18

19 God delivered the people from slavery in Egypt. God saved them. When all hope seemed lost, God provided a way for them. God showed again God s commitment to keep the promise made to Abraham and his family- and through them to the whole world. God s desire and God s actions point to blessing and to life and to well-being. People, on the other hand, are far less trustworthy. We have short memories. We get scared and overwhelmed. We panic. We look for easy ways out. We seek our own preservation rather than the welfare of others. God saw that. And so God gave some laws. God gave some rules to govern the people so that things could go well for the people. These laws, if followed, would bring blessing to the lives of God s people. They would create the sort of community in which God desired God s children to live. If only we could keep these commandments! First Hour: 1. Into the Story 2. Learning the Story 3. Living the Story 4. Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Page 12. In our story for today, we heard the giving of the Ten Commandments. Martin Luther included the Ten Commandments as the very first section in the Small Catechism. For Luther, it was important that people understand that God s Word contains both law and good news. The Ten Commandments are part of God s law. The law gives us guidelines for how God wants us to live in relationship with God and with one another. Today we are especially looking at the first three commandments. These commandments help us to know 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 19

20 God s vision for our relationship with God. Ask your students to read/recite the first three commandments and their meanings. If these commandments were obeyed, what kind of relationship would we have with God? What if they were disobeyed? One of the things that we know is true about the commandments is that none of us keep all of the commandments all of the time. It is impossible for us to do. Martin Luther said that the other thing that is important about knowing God s law is that it shows us that we need God s grace. When we see that we cannot be holy on our own, then we know that we need the free gift of God s forgiveness given through Jesus! Distribute and read Student Book Page Activity Idea: We Are to Fear and Love God In the meaning to each of the commandments, Martin Luther starts off by saying, We are to fear and love God, so that How can we both fear and love God? Encourage conversation about this question. If students need some help with this, encourage them to do a Google search about this question. What variety of opinions do they find from others? If you have people in your building during this class session, you might send out teams to go and ask around. What do people think about this? Does everyone agree? Are there differences of opinion? Help students to think about what they know about Martin Luther and the context in which he lived. What might Luther have meant given the abuses that he saw among the religious leaders? Have students look up the word fear in a dictionary (hard copy or online.) There should be a meaning close to respect or 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 20

21 reverence. How does this definition fit with loving God? Read Deuteronomy 6:1-6. Notice the word fear in v. 2! What kind of definition does it sound like is meant here? If students were going to pick another way of saying this introductory sentence to each of the meanings of the commandments that keeps the meaning of what they think the biblical text is trying to say, how might they phrase it? 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 21

22 Martin Luther, in his Large Catechism, described parents as a treasure to their children. Ruth treated her mother-in-law Naomi as a treasure. She stuck with her through the trials and the heartbreak that had befallen their family. Ruth s determination to honor and care for her mother-in-law led to immense blessing. Not only was Ruth married again, she was given the blessing of being one of the ancestors of Jesus! The fourth commandment reminds us that the relationship between parents and children is intended to bring blessing to both! First Hour: 1. Into the Story 2. Learning the Story 3. Living the Story 4. Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Pages 14 & 15. Ruth stayed with Naomi. She did not leave her alone to face poverty. She stayed by her side. She committed to share the same fate. She committed to serve the same God. She committed to being family to Naomi and God blessed their relationship. The fourth commandment is all about committing to treasure the gift that we have in our parents, elders, and those in authority over us. In what ways do you see blessing come from honoring parents, teachers, bosses, etc.? What gifts do you receive from the relationship you have with nurturing adults? [Encouragement, love, support, a place to live, food to eat, learning, etc.] Note: There are some students who unfortunately do not have parents who love 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 22

23 and care for them the way that God intends. For these students, it is important to know that God does not desire for us to secretly endure abuse or neglect. Instead, use this opportunity to clarify that we are talking about good, loving relationships. If that isn t the case for the relationship with a parent, help students identify other adults in their lives who do provide that nurture, protection, and encouragement! 2. Activity Idea: Standing Together Together Ruth and Naomi tackled the challenges of what to do about their impoverished state. How might you and your family work together to address situations of hunger and poverty today? Do some research. Write down your ideas. Then go home and make a plan with your family! Give students time to research and come up with some ideas. Sites such as lwr.org and oxfamamerica.org are good starting places! 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 23

24 David is known as the best king in Israel s history. He is even called a man after God s own heart (Acts 13:22). But even David had some trouble with these Ten Commandments. (Just check out 2 Samuel 11). None of us keep all of the commandments. David is a perfect example that even the best and brightest are vulnerable to sin. Yet, David is also a good example of how we are to handle sin. When we repent of our sin God will forgive. First Hour: 1. Into the Story 2. Learning the Story 3. Living the Story 4. Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Page 16. None of us are capable of keeping all of the commandments. Even David broke some big ones! Have students take turns reading 2 Samuel 11. Today we are looking at the 5 th and 6 th commandments. These were commandments that David broke in a big way when took Uriah s wife and had him killed. It doesn t take sleeping with your neighbor s spouse or having someone killed, though, to break these commandments. Anytime we hurt someone in any way- whether that is physically or through our speech or even just because we didn t help someone when we could have- we are guilty of killing. Anytime sex becomes something less than the pure and honorable love between spouses, we commit 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 24

25 adultery. David wasn t perfect. What defined his relationship with God was not the fact that he was free from sin, but rather that when he did sin, he confessed his sin to God and gratefully received God s forgiveness. The same is true for us. What defines our relationship with God is not that we are free from sin, but that we are forgiven! 2. Activity Idea: Create in Me a Clean Heart Give each student a copy of Student Book Page 17 and a handful of different colored markers. Invite students to spread out and find a comfortable seat somewhere in the room. Introduce Psalm 51. This is the Psalm that is attributed to David after he realized his sin surrounding his affair with Bathsheba and the death of her husband. I will read Psalm 51 aloud slowly. While I do, use the markers and paper that you have to doodle any images that come to your mind. Include any words or images of events or situations that you are seeking forgiveness for today. When I have finished reading, I will pause for a while in silence and then I will read the Psalm again. You are welcome to continue your prayers and your drawings through both readings of the Psalm. Read Psalm 51 through slowly once. Then pause for a minute or two in quiet. Then read the Psalm again. After the second reading, give students a minute to finish their work and then gather them back together. Use these (or your own) questions to spur conversation about this experience: o What was it like to hear that Psalm knowing David s story? o What was it like to hear that Psalm thinking of your own sins? 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 25

26 o What ideas or images stood out to you in that Psalm? o What ideas do you have for how you could you make praying this Psalm part of your daily life this week? 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 26

27 David s son, Solomon, started out as a good and wise king. But over time, his policies and procedures got a little out of check. After his death, his son, Rehoboam took over the throne. Rehoboam clearly did not inherit any of his father s wisdom. Instead of listening to those who gave him sound council, he listened only to his friends who encouraged him to take more and more of the people s time and energy. Where Solomon had begun slavery-like work policies, exploiting those who lived in the North to build his palace in Jerusalem (in the South), Rehoboam doubled down on the exploitation. The seventh commandment not to steal doesn t only prohibit taking what does not rightfully belong to you, but Luther also explains means that we are to help our neighbor improve and protect what is theirs, including their means of making a living. Rehoboam clearly did not get this memo! His exploitation of his neighbors to the North led to disaster. The kingdom split in two! First Hour: 1. Into the Story 2. Learning the Story 3. Living the Story 4. Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities Second Hour: 1. Activity Idea: Jenga 1. Begin by playing a game or two of Jenga. (Depending on the size of your group, you may need to have several games going at once.) 2. After students have finished play, gather your group back together for conversation. 3. Had any of you played Jenga before? 4. What makes this game so much fun do you think? 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 27

28 5. Do you have a certain strategy that you use when play this game? 6. About how many blocks were you able to take before the tower fell? 2. Distribute & Read Student Book Page The 7 th commandment is all about not taking what belongs to our neighbor, but rather helping our neighbors keep what is theirs. King Rehoboam s greed caused the collapse of the nation. Just like taking too many Jenga blocks causes the fall of the tower, greed and abuse of power led to ruin. As people of God, we are called not to take from others, but to contribute to building each other up. 2. Get the Jenga blocks back out again. This time, instead of having students play at removing blocks, work together as one large group to build a big number 7 on your table or floor. 3. After the number is built, gather your whole group around it and snap a picture. Text it to everyone in your class and print a copy to put on your classroom wall. Tell your group to think of this commandment, not to take but to help build each other up, each time they see this photo! 4. Optional: If you have your student book pages bound or are collecting them in folders, print copies of the picture to clip to page 18 in their student books too! 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 28

29 We serve the one, true God. We have already learned that there are to be no other gods in our lives. God is holy. God s name, God s relationship with us, and our relationship with others, is to be regarded with the holiness of the God who created us. In our story for today, we hear of a time in which the Israelites forgot God s holiness. Instead, they turned to worshipping a fake god. They disobeyed God s commandments. They used their voices to call upon, even shout to, a fake god. Surprise, surprise there was no answer. In contrast, the one, true God answered. This week we turn our attention in the Small Catechism to the eighth commandment. The eighth commandment has to do with fearing and loving God so that our words speak truth. Because we serve a holy and living God, we are to speak truth of our neighbor. Not only that, but we are to speak kindly, speaking well of our neighbors defending them, and explaining their actions in the kindest way possible. In this, the holiness of God s relationship with us extends to the way that we speak not only about and to God, but to one another as well. First Hour: Into the Story Learning the Story Living the Story Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities * Note: A variation of Rock Solid Faith (Hands On Activity from Living the Word: Youth Curriculum) will be used during the Second Hour. Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Page Activity Idea: Variation of Rock Solid Faith 1. When Elijah put those twelve stones representing Jacob s sons, the 12 tribes of Israel, in place to build an altar to the Lord, he was reminding everyone of God s goodness. Those 12 stones, those 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 29

30 children of Israel, existed only because of God s grace in saving Jacob. (Remember that story back a few weeks ago of Jacob fleeing for his life and God s blessing to him anyway?) The altar upon which God s holiness would be revealed was built with reminders of the relationship that God had had with these people throughout the generations. 2. Ask students to pick 12 small, smooth stones. 3. For the altar Elijah built, each of the 12 stones represented something that God had done, God s gift of a child and the relationship that God had with his descendants. For us today, each of these stones can also represent something that God has done in our lives. God has established a relationship with us. 4. Ask students to write on each stone something that God has done for them. 5. Give each student a full-size glass jar in which to place their 12 stones. 6. The reason why we keep the commandments, the reason why we do such things as to seek God s holiness in all our relationships and all our actions, is because of what God has done for us. God s gifts are the foundation of our worship and of our lives. 7. Fill each student s jar with water. 8. Place gently in each jar a tea light candle. (The tea light candle will float on top of the water.) Carefully light each of the candles. 9. Elijah was witness to God s miraculous act of holiness. So too are we. The miracle of God s holiness to us might not be revealed in burnt offerings, but rather in relationships that reflect the goodness of God. Each time you see these altars, may you be reminded of the gifts of God that are the foundation of your faith and the holiness of God that sustains it. May that holiness shine in each of your conversations and interactions! 10. Note: Remind students that candles should always be used with extreme caution and never left unattended. The candles should be blown out and taken out of the jar for transportation home. Encourage students to use these altars to up a special place for prayer and devotion at home Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 30

31 Our passage for today is a beautiful and heart-wrenching expression of God s love for God s children. Just as a parent desires the best for their child and struggles with knowing how to love and discipline a child so that they will know goodness and peace, God acts with deep love, wanting the best for children who continually turn away from God s goodness and holiness. Hosea, as with the other prophets, pointed out the brokenness of Israel s relationship with God and called God s people to repentance. Many of the prophets not only pointed out God s people s unfaithfulness in failing to worship God alone, but also their failure to care for one another as God commanded. The ninth and tenth commandments both continue to describe how God s holiness should guide our interactions with one another. We shall not scheme or pretend to have a right to what is not ours. We shall not ruin our neighbor s relationships. Instead, the holiness of God compels us to help others keep what is theirs. Because of God s power, because of God s love, this is how we are to live. First Hour: 1. Into the Story 2. Learning the Story 3. Living the Story 4. Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Page Activity Idea: Finders Keepers 1. Have you ever heard the phrase Finders keepers, losers weepers. at school? If you have, then you know what these 9 th and 10 th commandments are all about. Sometimes we can pretend or claim to have a right to something that is not really ours. We may even legally be able to make the claim, but that doesn t make it right Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 31

32 Luther wrote about these commandments that they are about more than just taking something from our neighbor. God intendeds that we go above and beyond to help our neighbors keep what is theirs. Rather than taking, we are to give of ourselvesour time, talents, and energy to loving and serving our neighbors. Because God is holy, we strive to live with holiness in all our relationships. 2. Today, we are going to practice caring for our neighbors and helping them keep what is theirs. If possible, take your youth to help someone do yard work or work on a neighborhood restoration project. 3. If such a project is not possible during this time slot, spend this time making observations about what needs your group may be able to help meet in your neighborhood or church community and make plans to get together again to complete the service project. 4. An alternative service project idea, building on the image of parent and child present in the Hosea text, is to make fleece blankets for your local hospital, homeless shelter, or police department to give to children experiencing trauma or separation from their parents. Directions for simple tied fleece blankets can be found online at sites such as this one: Blanket/ 5. Optional: If you have student pages bound together or are keeping them in a folder, be sure to take pictures of your group working together to complete this service project. Print one or two and attach them to student book page Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 32

There are stark images in our readings today of what God will do.

Though God created and cared gently and abundantly for this creation, the goodness that should have flourished did not.

God will not let this go on without doing something about it. First Hour: 1. Into the Story 2. Learning the Story 3. Living the Story 4.

33 There are stark images in our readings today of what God will do. God compares the people to a vineyard in which grapes were planted, but only wild grapes grew. Though God created and cared gently and abundantly for this creation, the goodness that should have flourished did not. God expected justice, but saw bloodshed. God wanted righteousness, but heard a cry. So what will the gardener do? Tear down the vineyard? Remove its protection? God warned in the giving of the Ten Commandments that iniquity (evil, injustice) would not be allowed to continue in God s creation. God will not let this go on without doing something about it. First Hour: 1. Into the Story 2. Learning the Story 3. Living the Story 4. Any of the optional Extending the Learning Activities Second Hour: 1. Distribute & Read Student Book Page 21 & Activity Idea: Family Tree 1. Martin Luther included in his Small Catechism a section at the end of the Ten Commandments of what God says of all these commandments. 2. Ask students to read this section. 3. Give students the assignment to sketch a family tree or genogram. Genogram instructions can be found online at sites such as this one: 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 33

34 4. Ask students to come up with a symbol to designate on their genogram or family tree the people who helped teach them about God s love. Note: Some family trees may be full of these people. Some may be empty. Encourage students to include friends, neighbors, and mentors in some way in their family tree if that is helpful. We are all brothers and sisters in Christ! Encourage students to identify those sources of strength and encouragement for living lives of faith, even if they have to look outside of their immediate family to find them! 5. It is a blessing to have people who help us learn about God s love, whether those people are related or not. Likewise, if we have people in our families who do not follow God s ways, that can be challenging. It used to be very common, even more so than now, for several generations to live together in one household. God was saying that what one generation did that was not following God s ways would effect everyone in the household. Anyone who lives with someone who doesn t follow God s ways knows that this is true. But God s promise is that following God s word will bless not only those closest to us, but will also extend way beyond just one household to many, many people and even generations to come! 6. Ask students to identify of some of the blessings that they have seen or experienced because of one of the people in their lives who have taught them about God s love and add these around the margins of their family trees. 7. End this activity with a prayer for the students in your class and for their families. Pray prayers of thanksgiving for all the people (whether in our families or at church or at school or in the neighborhood) who teach us about God s love. Pray for family members who don t yet know God s word that they would soon know God s love and will for their lives! 3. Activity Idea: A Shoot Shall Come 1. There is good news in Isaiah 11:1-5! From what looked dead and cut off, new life will spring forth! As we prepare to enter the Advent season, we hear this text and can t help but think of Jesus, the descendant of Jesse who will rule with righteousness and 2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 34

35 faithfulness! This is a reminder of hope in the midst of desperate and bleak times. 2. Invite your class to prepare Christmas cards to send to those who are experiencing times of bleak desperation. Consider researching Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services efforts to send Christmas cards to families who will spend Christmas in immigration detention centers. Visit lirs.org for more information Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved 35

2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved

2015 Spirit and Truth Publishing All Rights Reserved God is the source of all life. Through God s gift of breath, life entered the world. In goodness, God provided that life should flourish in God s care