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1 Sample Full product can be ordered by calling or by visiting FaithAliveResources.org. Property of Faith Alive Christian Resources. All rights reserved. Facebook.com/FACurriculum Twitter.com/FACurriculum Tell the Story. Live the Story.

2 Gospel on Fire EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 1 EUROPE AFRICA ASIA CAES AESAREA AREA SAMARIA JERUSALEM MEDITERRANEAN MEDITERRANEAN SEA 43

4 Memory Challenge EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 1 Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20, TNIV Memory Challenge Then Jesus came to them and said, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20, TNIV 45

5 Memory Challenge EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 1 And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20, NRSV Memory Challenge And Jesus came and said to them, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age. Matthew 28:18-20, NRSV 46

6 Brand Recognition EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION

8 Brand Recognition EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION

stoned to death Pentecost: disciples receive the Holy Spirit; 3,000 new believers added to the

10 EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 3 Jesus Christ s death, resurrection, and ascension: Jesus gives the Great Commission and promises the power of the Holy Spirit Stephen, first Christian martyr, is stoned to death Pentecost: disciples receive the Holy Spirit; 3,000 new believers added to the church Persecution sends Christians all over Judea and Samaria they spread the good news and church grows! 51

12 EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 3 Paul carries the gospel to Rome Nero blames Christians for fire in Rome; persecutes them Christians worship secretly in catacombs 53

14 EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 3 Polycarp burned at the stake 156 Church continues to grow! 55

wins battle after vision of the cross; signs Edict of

16 EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 3 Emperor Decius begins worst persecution yet Emperor Constantine wins battle after vision of the cross; signs Edict of Milan ending persecution of Christians in the Roman Empire 57

18 EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 3 Tic-Tac-Trip Pieces A.D Under Constantine s rule, Christianity became the favored religion in the Roman Empire. Soon being a Christian was the key to getting a better job, a higher rank in the army, or a better social status. As a result, thousands of people throughout the empire joined the church. Many were sincere, but others were uncommitted. At one time, most people in the Roman Empire spoke Latin. But by 476, the entire western Roman Empire had been conquered by invading tribes, all bringing their own languages. After a while, most people didn t use Latin or even understand it. But it was still the only language the priests used to read the Bible. (Remember, most people didn t have a Bible to read at home not even a Latin Bible. Before the printing press was invented, books had to be copied by hand.) So the church was divided into two categories of people: priests, who could understand the Scriptures; and everyone else, who never got to hear the Bible in a language they could understand. While the church suffered persecution, no one who wasn t really a Christian pretended to be one! Why risk persecution for something that didn t matter to you? But once persecution stopped, it was easy to be part of the church. Persecution kept the church pure and united; when persecution was over, the church was divided into those who truly believed and those who belonged because it was easy. Constantine founded Constantinople, a city in the eastern part of the Roman Empire. He made that city the headquarters of the church, instead of Rome, which was in the western half of the empire. In 1054 the church of the West (the Roman Catholic Church) and the East (the Eastern Orthodox Church) separated, and they remain divided until the present day. Church leaders had their own armies, as if they were government leaders instead of church leaders. Some popes had such large armies that they could, and often did, order the kings of many countries to obey them. If a king refused to obey, the pope could see to it that no church services could be held in the entire country! No one could be married or buried. If the king still refused to obey, the pope could excommunicate him (kick him out of the church) and take away his right to be king. 59

19 EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 3 Tic-Tac-Trip Pieces A.D The church taught that ordinary people should approach God through the priests and through Mary and other saints. They taught that priests had the power to forgive sins; people couldn t get forgiveness from God without them. In the seventh century, the religion of Islam began to claim lands that once were Christian. When Muslim occupation interfered with Christian pilgrimages to Jerusalem, the church responded by starting a holy war to drive Muslims out of Jerusalem. The Crusades lasted (on and off) for two hundred years, starting in Muslims and Jews were massacred; thousands of Christians, mostly poor, including two armies made up entirely of children, died when the Christians were unsuccessful. The pope had promised that anyone who died fighting for Jerusalem would go straight to heaven. (Today that s what Muslim extremists promise to suicide bombers.) The Crusades are one of the most shameful chapters in the history of the Christian church. Some kings insisted on appointing church leaders, such as bishops, as if the king were the head of the church instead of head of the government. Some emperors made it their job to punish church members if the emperor thought they weren t good enough Christians. Priests taught that sinners had to pay for their sins, not that Jesus had already paid for them. The priest had the power to tell people what they had to do to pay for their sins: go a day without eating, say a certain number of prayers or buy an indulgence (a piece of paper to take away all or part of whatever the priest would otherwise require them to do). Now it cost money to have your sins forgiven or get your loved ones out of purgatory (a sort of waiting room that the priests said souls went to after death) and into heaven. 60

20 EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 3 Tic-Tac-Trip Pieces Dangers Today Canada and the United States hold to what is called the separation of church and state. That means that the government isn t allowed to run the churches, and the churches aren t allowed to make laws for the government. But it isn t always easy to work that out. For example, many Christians believe that the Bible says that homosexual activity is not part of God s plan for people. So they think there should be laws against homosexual marriage. Other people (including some Christians) think that the government should not make laws that require non-christians to follow Christian moral beliefs. In order to put this piece on one of the Church and government are mixed together squares, your team must describe how either position could lead to problems. In order to put this piece on one of The church is divided squares, your team must describe one way the Christian church today is in danger of being divided. You might describe something that one denomination fights about with another denomination, or a conflict within a single church. You may not repeat an example that has already been given. Canada and the United States hold to what is called the separation of church and state. That means that the government isn t allowed to run the churches, and the churches aren t allowed to make laws for the government. But not all countries work that way. In China, for example, the government has made it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to be taught from the Bible or encouraged to put their faith in God. It is also illegal to print any Christian literature for children. In order to put this piece on one of the Church and government are mixed together squares, your team must explain whether you think having the government in control of the church (as it is in China) is a problem, and why or why not. In order to put this piece on one of The church is divided squares, your team must describe one way the Christian church today is in danger of being divided. You might describe something that one denomination fights about with another denomination, or a conflict within a single church. You may not repeat an example that has already been given. In order to put this piece on one of The church is divided squares, your team must describe one way the Christian church today is in danger of being divided. You might describe something that one denomination fights about with another denomination, or a conflict within a single church. You may not repeat an example that has already been given. 61

21 EARLY TEEN YEAR 3 UNIT 1 SESSION 3 Tic-Tac-Trip Pieces Dangers Today Money and power can be sources of blessing. But in the past, money and power have tripped the church up. In order to put this piece on a Money and power corrupt the church square, your team must give a realistic example of how money (or materialism ) or power could be a danger to the church today. You may not repeat an example that has already been given. Money and power can be sources of blessing. But in the past, money and power have tripped the church up. In order to put this piece on a Money and power corrupt the church square, your team must give a realistic example of how money (or materialism ) or power could be a danger to the church today. You may not repeat an example that has already been given. Canada and the United States hold to what is called the separation of church and state. That means that the government isn t allowed to run the churches, and the churches aren t allowed to make laws for the government. Some people argue that the separation of church and state means that your religious beliefs may not influence how you vote or, if you are in elected office, how you do your job in the government. In order to put this piece on one of the Church and government are mixed together squares, your team must tell whether you agree or disagree, and why. Money and power can be sources of blessing. But in the past, money and power have tripped the church up. In order to put this piece on a Money and power corrupt the church square, your team must give a realistic example of how money (or materialism ) or power could be a danger to the church today. You may not repeat an example that has already been given. 62

CHRISTIAN CHURCH THE FIRST CHRISTIANS

CHRISTIAN CHURCH THE FIRST CHRISTIANS Jesus of Nazareth is Born Jesus teachings make people think in a different, more loving way. He makes them want to change their lives for the better. He fulfills the