Learning God s Way. Christ Our Life AT-HOME EDITION. Centering. Sharing PAGE 115. Sharing PAGE 116. Chapter 13

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1 Chapter 13 CHAPTER 13 Learning God s Way Centering Say: We live in a society where waiting for anything is bad. Ask: Why do we hate to wait? (We want immediate results and immediate gratification.) Can you name real things that claim quick or immediate results? (stain removers, lending institutions, credit cards) Say: Today we re going to see how the Israelites grew impatient waiting to enter the Promised Land. They wanted immediate gratification. Sharing PAGE 115 Have your child read aloud Learning to Live as God s People on page 115. Say: As the Israelites were waiting for the Promised Land, they had to learn more about what it meant to keep the Covenant and to follow the Ten Commandments. Have your child read silently A Fearful People. Ask: How did the scouts describe the land of Canaan? (The land was wonderful; the people were fierce.) How would you have felt after hearing about Canaan? Ask: Why did God become angry when the Israelites decided not to march against Canaan? (He was insulted by their lack of trust in him.) How did God show his displeasure with the people? (God said that the people would be struck with sickness and disowned because they would not trust him even after all he had done for them.) Say: Moses prayed for the people. When he prayed, he spoke familiarly with God, as though God had feelings like his. He treated God as a friend. Ask: What did the Israelites suffer because of their sins? (They would wander in the wilderness for forty years.) Sharing PAGE 116 Have your child read aloud A Complaining People on page 116. Allow time for him or her to answer the question independently. Ask: What did the Israelites do whenever anything went wrong? (They complained to Moses and Aaron and blamed them for each problem. They wished they were back in Egypt, or even dead.) Ask: How did Moses show a lack of faith at Meribah? (Moses spoke as if he doubted the Lord s unfailing love, and then he struck the rock twice, perhaps because his faith was weak.) How did God punish Moses? (He would not be able to lead the people into the Promised Land.)

2 Chapter 13 Ask: What does this story teach us about the importance of our decisions? (We must be ready to accept the consequences of our actions and decisions.) Say: Everyone acts without thought occasionally it is part of being human. But when that happens, we are still responsible for the consequences of our actions and decisions. Read aloud A Moment with Jesus. Allow time for your child to pray quietly. Then lead your child in praying a spontaneous act of faith, or use the one on the inside back cover of your child s book. Conclude by having your child sing or listen to a song that expresses faith. Sharing PAGE 117 Have your child read aloud The Desire for Happiness on page 117. Direct your child to open the family Bible to Matthew 5:3 12 and have him or her read aloud the Beatitudes. Talk about ways in which your child can live the Beatitudes in his or her own life. Have your child read silently A Power to Judge. Ask: Like in a search engine, what would happen to your conscience if it s given the wrong data? (It will take you in the wrong direction.) Say: We must learn what is good so that our conscience will be informed. Then, with the help of the Holy Spirit, when we make decisions, our conscience will guide us to choose the good. Say: If the Internet or a TV show asks you to do something, you should listen to your conscience first. Ask: Where can you get trustworthy, accurate information for your conscience? (from parents, godparents, religion classes, teachers, good books, friends who love God, the priest when you celebrate the Sacrament of Reconciliation) Have your child read aloud Decision-Making Vocabulary. Ask: Are obligations things we may do or things we must do? (things we must do) What obligations do you have as a child? Discuss his or her answers. Say: Principles are truths we believe in that help us decide how to act. Jesus gave us many principles.

3 Chapter 13 Say: When we make decisions, we must also think about the consequences. Sometimes we can see the consequences before we make a choice, but not always. Imagine your alarm goes off to get you up for Mass. You can decide to get up or to stay in bed. If this is the only Mass you can attend, and you decide to sleep in, what will the consequence be? (missing Mass) Ask: What does your conscience consider when making a decision? (obligations, principles, and consequences) What does it do once it s considered these things? (makes a judgment) Then what does your conscience do? (It approves or disapproves the decision made.) Sharing PAGE 118 Have your child read aloud Make a Decision on page 118. Guide your child to consider the obligations, principles, and consequences of the Israelites decision. Acting PAGES Together pray aloud the Act of Contrition found on the inside front cover of your child s book. Lead your child through the Summary and the Review on pages 119 and 120. Encourage your child to share the Things to Do at Home section with other members of your family, or together read aloud the section to review.

4 Chapter 13 Gather and Go Forth PAGES INSPIRE Read aloud the text and Scripture in the sidebar on page 121. Say: This verse comes from the letter of Saint Paul to the Christians in Rome. Ask: What advice does he give them? (They need to do God s will.) PROCLAIM Read aloud the Know and Proclaim text and the chart. Say: When you rely on Church teachings and Jesus example, your decisions will lead to happiness. Read aloud the question and answers in Test Your Catholic Knowledge. Have your child answer the question and ask: What are some things you can do to live out God s law? Read aloud A Catholic to Know on page 122. Say: You can follow the example of Saint Boniface by forming your conscience according to Church teachings. Read aloud the Witness and Share introductory text. Then read aloud each faith statement in My Way to Faith, pausing to allow time for your child to reflect on each one. Read aloud the Share Your Faith directions and have your child complete the activity. TRANSFORM Encourage your child to read aloud Luke 6:20 26 and bring the spirit of the Beatitudes to the world today. Challenge your child to evangelize. Say: Talk to friends about the good experiences you have had with the Church.

5 Chapter 19 CHAPTER 19 David and Solomon Centering Discuss campaign speeches you and your child have listened to. Ask your child to name things the candidates talked about in their speeches. Say: Everyone who runs for office makes promises about what he or she will do if elected. These are called campaign promises. The test of the elected candidate is how well he or she keeps these promises. Ask: How did Saul fail to live up to his call to be king? (He disobeyed God.) Say: Today you will learn more about King David and what he was like after he became king of Israel. Sharing PAGE 165 Have your child read aloud the chapter title and the section God Looks at the Heart on page 165. Invite your child to summarize how David was chosen to be king. Then have him or her read aloud 1 Samuel 17, the story of David and Goliath. Have your child read silently David s Leadership. Ask: Why was David a good leader? (He obeyed God s law and served his people.) Which city did David make the capital of Israel? (Jerusalem) Say: Establishing Jerusalem as the capital and bringing the Ark there, the sign of God s presence, helped unite the people politically as a nation and spiritually as the people of God. Have your child read aloud David s Sin. Ask: Why was it wrong for David to want Bathsheba as his wife? (She was already married.) Which commandment says a man may not desire to have the wife of another? (The ninth You shall not covet your neighbor s wife.) Sharing PAGE 166 Have your child read silently David s Sorrow on page 166. Say: Sometimes when people have committed sin, they convince themselves that they did the right thing. But Nathan helped David see that his action was sinful. Say: David was sorry for his sin and begged for God s mercy. Ask: What did Nathan tell him then? (Nathan said that God had forgiven David, but that David would suffer as a result of his sin.)

6 Chapter 19 Say: David repented. Ask: What does repent mean? (to be sorry, to make up for the wrong done, and to resolve not to do it again) Say: A person who repents is called a penitent. Say: Every sin or wrong brings its own punishment. We have to accept the results, or consequences, of our decisions and actions. Have your child complete the activity David Noble in Failure. Invite your child to share his or her answers and elaborate on them. Sharing PAGE 167 Have your child read aloud the first three paragraphs of David s Love for God on page 167. Ask: How did David show love for God? (He wrote psalms. He wanted to build a temple for the Ark of the Covenant.) What are psalms? (prayer songs) What do they express? (love, gratitude, sorrow for sin, desire for forgiveness) Ask: If you had one wish, what would you wish for? Tell your child that he or she will learn about a man who actually had the chance to achieve his greatest wish. Read aloud the fourth paragraph of the section. Then pray aloud Psalm 51, alternating verses with your child. Have your child read aloud In the Footsteps of David. Ask: Why do you think King David allowed Solomon to take his throne while he was still alive? (He was glad to see his line continue in power. The country needed direction while David was dying.) What advice did David give to Solomon? (Take courage, be a man; follow the way of the Lord.) Read aloud Solomon, a Wise King. Ask: What did Solomon ask for? (wisdom and an understanding heart) How does his wish compare with your wish? Ask: How did the Lord show he was pleased with Solomon s answer? (God gave Solomon a wise and understanding heart. He promised that no one would be equal to Solomon.) Sharing PAGE 168 Have your child read silently The Gift of Wisdom on page 168. Ask: Along with wisdom, what are the other Gifts of the Holy Spirit? (understanding, counsel, fortitude, knowledge, piety, fear of the Lord) Why is Solomon known as the patron of all wisdom? (He spoke wisely and wrote many proverbs and songs.) What is a proverb? (a wise saying) Have your child write proverb in the vocabulary section of his or her journey log.

7 Chapter 19 Ask: Which books of the Bible are said to be written by Solomon? (most of the Wisdom Literature in the Old Testament) Have your child read aloud Work of Wonder. Together read aloud the blessing of Solomon in the last paragraph. Have your child read silently The End of Solomon s Reign. Ask: What did Solomon do that displeased God? (To please his pagan wives, he built a temple to their idols.) What was the result of Solomon s sin? (The tribes of Israel were divided.) Read aloud A Moment with Jesus. Allow time for your child to pray quietly. Acting PAGES Lead your child through the Summary and the Review on pages 169 and 170. Ask your child whether he or she thinks David would have chosen to sin if he had thought about any of the following: his obligations to God and the people; his principles as a leader of God s people; the consequences of his action. Encourage your child to share the Things to Do at Home section with other members of your family, or together read aloud the section to review.

8 Chapter 19 Gather and Go Forth PAGES INSPIRE Read aloud the text and the Scripture in the sidebar on page 171. Say: These words sum up Jesus mission. John had preached about a time to come; Jesus preached that the time had come. God had fulfilled his promises to Israel by sending his only Son to save the people. PROCLAIM Read aloud the Know and Proclaim text and the chart. Say: Pilgrimages are journeys to holy sites. Our life here on earth is a pilgrimage to our permanent home in heaven. Read aloud the question and answers in Test Your Catholic Knowledge. Have your child answer the question and say: Knowing our Catholic faith helps us live our faith. Read aloud A Catholic to Know on page 172. Say: Benedict built what has become one of the most famous monasteries in the world. Monte Cassino was built in 529 on a mountain about 80 miles south of Rome. Read aloud the Witness and Share introductory text. Then read aloud each faith statement in My Way to Faith, pausing to allow time for your child to reflect on each one. Read aloud the Share Your Faith directions and have your child complete the activity. TRANSFORM Ask: How does knowing that three great religions share Jerusalem as a sacred site help build fellowship among the people of these faiths? (It helps build respect and understanding among faiths.) Explain that Jerusalem is the center of conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. Consider sharing some news articles about the peace process. Pray: Lord, help the people of Jerusalem love one another so they may live in peace. Amen.

9 Chapter 20 CHAPTER 20 Unit 4 Review Centering Explain to your child that we can learn about history by studying the people who lived during those times. Ask: If I wanted to learn more about the Civil War, whose biographies could I read? (Abraham Lincoln, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, Ulysses S. Grant, Clara Barton, Julia Ward Howe) Why would the stories of people s lives tell about the history of their times? (The reader would get a sense of everyday life during that time, as well as how social and political factors affected the person s life and choices.) Ask: If someone were to read my life story, what might they learn about life today in this country? Say: You have learned about the life and times of the Chosen People by studying famous people of those times. Today we are going to review what we have learned in this unit. Reviewing PAGES Write these scrambled words on a sheet of paper and have your child unscramble them: rafe eth drlo dna vsree hmi thwi ryuo hlwoe thrae (Fear the Lord and serve him with your whole heart.) Have your child complete the crossword puzzle Word Hunt on page 173. Have him or her read aloud the answers. Guide your child to complete Opening Lines on page 174. Allow time for your child to complete Hebrew Prayers. Invite your child to share his or her psalm verse and prayer-song. Talk about how your child might incorporate the prayer-song into his or her daily prayers. Have your child complete Israelite Leaders on page 175. Allow time for your child to complete Wisdom from Proverbs. Check his or her answers. Celebrating PAGES Decide which parts each of you will read aloud during the celebration. Give your child time to practice his or her parts. Then invite your child to reflect on a good leader he or she knows and consider why that person is a good leader. Conduct the celebration on pages 176 and 177.

10 Chapter 20 Lead your child in a prayer response. Say: Think of one or two sentences praising and thanking God for revealing himself and showing his love in the lives of the people we have studied. For example, you might say, I praise and thank you, God, for showing us how to trust and believe in you through Abraham s example of trust and generosity. [Pause.] Now pray to God in your heart. Acting PAGE 178 Have your child read aloud Looking Back at Unit 4 on page 178. Have your child complete Living the Message and Planning Ahead. Review your child s answers. Allow time to clarify any other points about which your child needs further review. Have your child draw a contemporary Here I am, Lord scene, depicting himself or herself in a situation in which God speaks to him or her. Share and discuss with your child the Canticle of Hannah in 1 Samuel 2:1 10. Ask what it means to say that someone is getting the royal treatment. Explain that because all people are created in the image and likeness of God, our King, we are called to give all people the royal treatment. Have your child make a list of ways he or she can give the royal treatment to others in small ways every day.

11 Chapter 20 Gather and Go Forth PAGES INSPIRE Read aloud the text and the Scripture in the sidebar on page 179. Say: God s love tells us that he will help us. He is with us no matter what fearful time we are going through. PROCLAIM Read aloud the Know and Proclaim text and the chart. Say: Holy Week begins with Palm Sunday and leads up to the Triduum, the three holiest days in the Christian calendar. Read aloud the question and answers in Test Your Catholic Knowledge. Have your child answer the question and say: When you are confirmed, you can be a sponsor for someone going through the RCIA. Read aloud A Catholic to Know on page 180. Say: Saint Bernard shows us that by trusting in God s love, we receive the strength we need to bring unity wherever there is division. Saint Bernard, pray for us! Read aloud the Witness and Share introductory text. Then read aloud each faith statement in My Way to Faith, pausing to allow time for your child to reflect on each one. Read aloud the Share Your Faith directions and have your child complete the activity. TRANSFORM Challenge your child to act as a peacemaker. Say: Saint Bernard worked to restore peace among people and nations. Think of a conflict you witnessed. Ask: What could you have done to help bring peace? Challenge your child to pray the Peace Prayer of Saint Francis every Monday morning as a reminder of his or her call to be a peacemaker.

12 Chapter 22 CHAPTER 22 Isaiah Proclaims the Promised Messiah Centering Ask: What is a prophet? (someone who speaks for God) Which prophets have we learned about so far? (Elijah, Amos) Ask: What were their messages? (Change your ways. Practice social justice.) Say: Today you will learn about the prophet Isaiah. Isaiah had a powerful experience that changed his life and made him view things differently. Sharing PAGE 191 Have your child read aloud the chapter title and the first two paragraphs of A Prophet Touched by God on page 191. Have your child summarize what he or she learned about Isaiah. Have your child read aloud the next two paragraphs. Then have him or her find and read aloud Isaiah 6:3. Allow time for your child to answer the questions about this passage. Ask: What great contrast did Isaiah see? (The Lord had always been loving and faithful, and the people had been unfaithful.) In Isaiah s vision, what did an angel do? (touched his mouth with a burning piece of coal) We associate fire and heat with purifying and sterilizing. What did this burning coal do to Isaiah in his vision? (It purified him of his sin.) Say: We learn a lot about Isaiah s courage and love by his response to God after this experience. Ask: How did Isaiah show God an open heart? (He said, Here I am! Send me! ) Have your child read aloud the rest of the section and answer the last question. Sharing PAGE 192 Have your child read silently Trusting in God on page 192. Ask: How was God using the Assyrians in the divine plan? (They would conquer the Chosen People, who had been unfaithful.) Say: Isaiah believed that the basic sin of the Chosen People was their refusal to believe and trust in God. What do you think is the basic sin of the world today? Have your child read aloud the Book of Isaiah. Ask: How many sections does the Book of Isaiah have? (three First Isaiah, Second Isaiah, and Third Isaiah)

13 Chapter 22 Ask: Why have the words of Isaiah influenced so many people? (because they are so powerful; his message of trust in God is very important for people everywhere) Who needs Isaiah s message today? Which passage from Isaiah do you like best? Why? Sharing PAGE 193 Say: Holiness is godliness. The Bible tells us that God alone is holy. When we refer to someone as being holy, we mean that they reflect God s holiness. The search for holiness is like the search for the Promised Land and for the kingdom. We are to follow wherever God leads us and trust in God s plans for our lives. Have your child read aloud The Suffering Servant and the Kingdom on page 193. Ask: What is meant by all kingdoms begin in the heart? According to Isaiah, who would bring the true kingdom? (a servant) How was Jesus a servant? (He took upon himself all the sins and weaknesses of the people; he suffered for all; he saved the people and brought the kingdom.) Ask: How can we be servants like Jesus today? Discuss your child s answers. Guide your child to complete The Kingdom of God. Sharing PAGE 194 Have your child read silently Dreamers and Planners on page 194. Say: Isaiah was a dreamer and a planner. He dreamed of a faithful people and a nation that was true to the Lord. He also tried to do something to make his dream come true. Ask: Who are some other people we have learned about this year who not only had big dreams, but also planned? Encourage your child to explain how the people planned certain events in their lives. Read aloud A Moment with Jesus. Have your child locate Matthew 7:21 23 in the family Bible. Allow time for your child to read the passage and to pray silently asking Jesus for the grace to do the Father s will. Have your child read aloud The Call to Holiness. Brainstorm qualities that describe God. Ask your child to describe people he or she knows who have some of these qualities. Then allow time for your child to think of which qualities he or she possesses. Say: Any time we reflect qualities that belong to God, we are being holy.

14 Chapter 22 Acting PAGES Lead your child through the Summary and the Review on pages 195 and 196. Encourage your child to begin keeping a personal journal. Say: A journal can serve as a record of your meetings with God. Explain that finding the time to write thoughts and prayers, and rereading what he or she has written may help your child be open to the ways God has worked in his or her life. As a closing prayer, have your child pray Psalm 73: Have your child add the terms Ahaz, Assyria, Isaiah, Second Isaiah, Hezekiah, and seraphim to the vocabulary section of his or her journey log. Encourage your child to share the Things to Do at Home section with other members of your family, or together read aloud the section to review.

15 Chapter 22 Gather and Go Forth PAGES INSPIRE Read aloud the text and the Scripture in the sidebar on page 197. Say: Just as God spoke through the prophets, God uses other people to help lift us up during difficult times. PROCLAIM Read aloud the Know and Proclaim text and the chart. Say: When we pray Amen after receiving Holy Communion, we are saying that this is truly the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ. Read aloud the question and answers in Test Your Catholic Knowledge. Have your child answer the question and say: Jesus shows us that suffering is not the end. Because he suffered and died for us, we know that Jesus will lift us up. Jesus gives us hope in suffering. Read aloud A Catholic to Know on page 198. Say: Charles Lwanga and his friends were martyrs. Ask: What is a martyr? (someone who gives his or her life for the faith) Read aloud the Witness and Share introductory text. Then read aloud each faith statement in My Way to Faith, pausing to allow time for your child to reflect on each one. Read aloud the Share Your Faith directions and have your child complete the activity. TRANSFORM Discuss Church missions in Africa. Bring in an article from Catholic News Service ( that illustrates the work of missions in Africa and other regions of the world. Challenge your child to offer personal sacrifice. Remind your child that through prayer, he or she can unite worries, sickness, or sadness with the sufferings of the crucified Christ for the redemption of the world.

16 Chapter 25 CHAPTER 25 Unit 5 Review Centering Guide your child to complete this matching activity. Write these two headings on a sheet of paper: Name, Prophet of. Then mix up the names and descriptions in the answers under their appropriate headings. Have your child recall the prophets and the correct theme of their messages. (Elijah The One God; Amos Social Justice; Isaiah The Messiah; Jeremiah The New Covenant; Ezekiel Hope; John the Baptist Repentance) Ask: What is the role of a prophet? (to renew the people in their faith, to bring God s Word to them, and to warn them against evil; to reprimand the people for their sins; to energize their faith and give them hope) Say: During the prayer celebration, you will have an opportunity to make a commitment to God by accepting the role of a prophet. Reviewing PAGES Have your child complete the activity Show What You Know on page 217. Review your child s answers. Allow time for your child to read silently and reflect on the message of the Bible passages in the activity Messages of the Prophets on page 218. Have your child complete the activity and review his or her answers with you. Work together to complete Which Prophet? on page 218. Have your child complete The Last Prophet and A Message to Remember on page 219. Encourage careful lettering of the message. You might play soft music during this time. Invite your child to share his or her work with you. Celebrating PAGES Explain the purpose of this prayer celebration. Say: The prayer celebration is an opportunity to renew yourself in the love of God. It is also a way for you to make a commitment to the Lord by accepting the responsibility to participate in Jesus prophetic ministry according to his will. Before you begin the celebration, you and your child should cut out several heart shapes from white construction paper. Write messages such as these on each heart: Talk to God today; Be a friend to someone who needs it; Be a good example; Do something special to surprise your parents; Be a joyful giver; Do an act of kindness for an adult; Do a favor for someone you don t get along with. Put a safety pin in each heart and place the hearts in a small box that will be used in the ceremony.

17 Chapter 25 Decide which speaking parts each of you will say during the ceremony. Choose songs you would both like to include. Conduct the prayer celebration Celebrating the Prophets on pages 220 and 221. You may wish to have other family members take a heart from the box, pin it on, and carry out the message. Acting PAGE 222 Have your child complete page 12 of his or her Scripture prayer booklet God s Word Is Alive in. Have your child read aloud Looking Back at Unit 5 on page 222. Allow time for him or her to complete Living the Message and Planning Ahead. Invite your child to share his or her answers for Planning Ahead. Direct your child to draw a picture of a Bible story he or she studied. Have your child cut his or her picture into 12 pieces and put the pieces in an envelope. Encourage your child to work the puzzle with friends or family members and identify the Bible story being shown. Direct your child to write Who am I? riddles for each prophet. (Example: I stayed with the Israelites in Judah during the time of the Exile in Babylon. Who am I? ) Invite your child to share his or her riddles with friends or family members. Encourage your child to design a book jacket for a book from the Old Testament. He or she might also compose a jacket blurb describing the book. Encourage your child to share the Building Family Faith section with other members of your family, or together read aloud the section to review.

18 Chapter 25 Gather and Go Forth PAGES INSPIRE Read aloud the text and the Scripture in the sidebar on page 223. Say: The Holy Spirit has given us gifts to help us do what God asks of us. PROCLAIM Read aloud the Know and Proclaim text and the chart. Say: Think about your favorite teacher. Ask: What qualities did he or she have that helped you learn? How can you imitate those qualities to help others learn about the Catholic Church? Read aloud the question and answers in Test Your Catholic Knowledge. Have your child answer the question and say: The Holy Spirit guides the formation of our conscience. A well-formed conscience will help you make good choices. Read aloud A Catholic to Know on page 224. Say: Saint Aloysius Gonzaga is the patron saint of Catholic youth. Ask for his prayers when you need the strength to follow your heart. Read aloud the Witness and Share introductory text. Then read aloud each faith statement in My Way to Faith, pausing to allow time for your child to reflect on each one. Read aloud the Share Your Faith directions and have your child complete the activity. TRANSFORM Remind your child that solidarity helps people realize they depend on one another. Ask: How can you show solidarity with people who are poor or suffer from violence? Say: We all grow in faith through the personal witness of others. Invite your child to share intentions for peace and justice. Pray in unison after each intention: Lord, hear our prayer.