How To Know God From God'S Word

Transcription

1 God Is Good 1 2 Jesus Is God s Best Gift understand that God made the world good. Pausing to reflect on the intricacy, the design, the power, or the infinite variety in the created world refreshes the mind that is weary from the sound and image bombardment of our technological age. Through the psalmist, God invites us: Be still and confess that I am God! Psalm 46:11 If only we take the time to put aside our business, the goodness of creation will captivate us and lead us to give thanks and praise to God, our good Father. We can open our senses to the warmth of the sunlight, the beauty of a rainbow, the gentleness of a refreshing breeze. We can pause to see the dew on the grass, the winged wonders in the sky, or the antics of a chipmunk scampering nearby. We can recognize the goodness of God shining through the eyes of a child and hear our creator speak in the exclamations of delight of the young at play. Genesis 1:1 2:4 First Story of Creation Genesis 2:4 25 Second Story of Creation Psalm 104:24 How Many Are Your Works 282, , 299, 307, 2415 name some of the wonders of creation. tell the biblical story of creation and interpret its meaning. give examples of God s continuing creative activity in our world. see God s goodness in creation. suggest ways that we can care for our world. creation Creator create to make something out of nothing creatures things that God made understand that God sent Jesus to die and rise in order to give us new life. Augustine of Hippo, one of the greatest philosophers the world has ever known, tried to find happiness in the delights of the earth. Eventually, he realized that only through Jesus can a person come to enjoy the intimate and real contact with God, which alone satisfies the deepest human desires. Jesus is the best gift of the Father, the perfect revelation of the Father, the Savior who died and rose to bring us the Father s love. To know Jesus is to know the Father, whose faithful love continually invites us to share more fully in his life. The image Jesus used to express the nature of our relationship with him expressed clearly the overwhelming bounty of God s love: Christ is the vine, and we are the branches. The branches of a vine yield a fruit that gladdens the human heart, but this delightful fruit results only when the branches remain united to the vine. John 12:23 24 A Buried Seed John 15:5 7 The Vine and the Branches John 3:16 God s Greatest Gift 457, , 2157 explain that a seed dies in order to have new life as a plant. explain that Jesus showed the Father s love by dying and rising to give us new life. identify the disciples and themselves as members of the Church, and Mary as the Mother of the Church. explain the parable of the vine and branches. describe how union with Jesus brings happiness. make the Sign of the Cross. Word Your Child Should Know disciple crucifix a cross with a figure of Jesus on it grace the life of God in us Savior Jesus, who died and rose to give us new life union being one with someone; sharing the same life, ideas, and so on 44 Home Learning Guide

2 3 4 God Gives Us Gifts understand that we each have unique gifts to praise God and to serve others. Though we may not know how great we can be or how much we can accomplish, we do know that we are all gifted and that God is the source of our abilities. There are different kinds of spiritual gifts but the same Spirit; there are different forms of service but the same Lord; there are different workings but the same God who produces all of them in everyone. 1 Corinthians 12:4 6 Each person fulfills God s plan in a different way. God gives us the gifts and talents we need to do his will. God expects us to be responsible for them, to develop them to the best of our ability, and to use them to improve ourselves, to help others, and to glorify him. By accepting our abilities as well as our limitations, we develop a healthy self-concept. This helps us respect others and appreciate successes and failures. 1 Samuel 16:1 13 Samuel s Anointment of David 1 Samuel 17:4 52 David and Goliath Matthew 25:14 29 The Parable of the Talents Romans 12:6 We Are One Body in Christ describe the Parable of the Talents. name some of the gifts he or she has received from God. explain ways that he or she can develop his or her gifts and use them for the good of others. describe how David is an example of someone who developed his talents and used them for good. appreciate the abilities of others and encourage them to use their talents. Word Your Child Should Know psalm talents a monetary unit used in New Testament times; natural gifts or abilities anoint to pour oil on someone as a sign that the person is chosen by God God Speaks to Us in Scripture understand that God reveals his love in the Old Testament and the New Testament. Catholics are encouraged to direct their journey toward the Kingdom of God by reading, knowing, understanding, and loving Sacred Scripture. As parents, we have the privilege and duty of leading our children along the way, but we can do this only if we ourselves are traveling it as well. Nourished and sustained by Scripture, we can share with others the life-giving Word of God and encourage in them a love and respect for the Scriptures. The words of Saint Paul give wise counsel: But you, remain faithful to what you have learned and believed, because you know from whom you learned it, and that from infancy you have known [the] sacred scriptures, which are capable of giving you wisdom for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:14 15 Psalm 50:15 God Our Rescuer Wisdom 15:1 Good and True God Philippians 4:5 Kindness of God 1 John 4:16 God in Us Isaiah 55:11 God s Word Transforms , explain that the Old Testament and the New Testament are the two parts of Sacred Scripture. discuss how Sacred Scripture is God s message that reveals his love for us. describe some of the messages of Scripture. explain that we show reverence for God s Word through symbolic actions. explain that our faith community believes in the Bible as God s Word among us. Hebrews inspired prophet Evangelist Israelites God s Chosen People; the Jews enthrone to put in a place of honor part 2 Working With Your Children and Christ Our Life: New Evangelization Edition 45

3 5 6 Jesus Calls Us to Worship understand that we worship with Jesus by imitating his life of prayer, loving service, and sacrifice. Jesus life of service on earth ended with the ultimate sacrifice the sacrifice of his life. The Resurrection was the sign that the Father accepted his Son s sacrifice. It is the Father s confirmed approval of Jesus work on earth. To offer ourselves as a living sacrifice that is holy and pleasing to God, we must live our lives following the way led by Jesus. Through the sacraments, we receive a share in God s own life and are strengthened to do what is pleasing to God. Mark 1:35 39 Jesus Leaves Capernaum. Mark 8:22 26 Jesus Cures the Man Who Was Blind. Psalm 66:4 Proclaim the Name of the Lord , 1189, , explain that through Baptism, Jesus gives us the grace to follow him more closely. locate and interpret Scripture passages. identify the Sacraments of Initiation, of Healing, and at the Service of Communion. recognize in the New Testament how Jesus worshiped the Father. understand that we worship God through prayer, loving service, and sacrifice. Eastern Catholic Church Sacraments at the Service of liturgy Communion Liturgy of the Hours Sacraments of Healing rite Sacraments of Initiation character a permanent spiritual mark showing that a person has a new relationship with Jesus and a special standing in the Church grace the gift of sharing in the life of God sacraments sacred Scripture reference the code that refers to a passage in the Bible verses (of Scripture) the phrases or sentences in the Bible that are marked by numbers in a chapter Scripture Is God s Saving Word understand that God, the author of the Bible, speaks to us through it. God has seen fit to preserve his gradual self-revelation to his Chosen People for all time. The Holy Scriptures were so inspired by God that God can truly be considered their principal author. God guided the minds and hearts of the human authors as they wrote those truths he wanted others to know. God did this in accordance with the personality of each author, while still allowing that person to fully exercise free will. Thus, the human authors used their own languages, their own images, and their own history to reveal God s plan. How privileged we are to frequently hear and read the Word of God! This Word is living and active, leading to holiness those who are open to it. Psalm 119:105, 107 Your Word Is a Lamp. Psalm 136:1 7 God s Love Endures Forever. Luke 11:28 Blessed Are Those Who Observe the Word of God. 104, 122, 129 describe what biblical inspiration means. explain that the Holy Spirit helps us to understand God s Word. identify and describe the four categories of Old Testament books: Law, historical, Wisdom Literature, and prophetic. explain that the books of the Bible differ in intention and style and reflect the backgrounds of their human authors. locate passages in Scripture. interpretation revelation Law Torah Pentateuch tradition inspiration God s guidance of the human authors and editors of the Bible that allowed them to pass on those truths God wanted to teach us Sacred Scripture the Bible 46 Home Learning Guide

4 7 8 Friendship with Jesus Jesus the Son of Man understand that Jesus is truly human and that he invites us to friendship with him. Sharing a meal is a universal sign of friendship. The word companion comes from two Latin words that mean with bread. A companion is someone with whom we break bread. Christ wants to be our companion, our friend. He does not force us, but leaves us free to choose whether or not we will open our hearts to him. Friendship with the living God is more than we dare to dream. The distance between God s transcendence and our limitations would seem to prevent friendship. To make matters worse, human sin widens the gap between the all-holy God and us. God, however, bridged that gap and showed the immensity of his love by becoming human, walking among us, living like us, giving us a sacred meal to celebrate with him, and ultimately, suffering and dying for us. What more proof of our Creator s love for us do we need? John 15:12 17 I Call You Friends. Revelation 3:20 Jesus Stands at the Door discuss that Jesus is truly human and like us in all ways except sin. describe how the sacraments keep us in touch with Jesus. describe the privileges and responsibilities that are part of friendship. identify some of Jesus friends in Scripture. understand that a relationship with Jesus is an essential part of life. identify prayer and action as two ways to know Jesus better. faith believing and trusting when one doesn t understand Scripture sacred writings containing God s Revelation; the written testimony of people s beliefs Tradition the Revelation of God through truths handed down by the Church from the time of the Apostles in teachings, liturgy, writings, and the lives of Christians Tracing Our Roots FOCUS: In this chapter, you will be helping your child to understand that the Church, which began with God s Chosen People, includes all the living and dead who have responded to God s love. All of us who share the faith can trace our spiritual roots back to not only Jesus and the Apostles, but also Father Abraham, who first dealt with the Lord as a loving friend and lived a life of faith in God. We belong to a faith family, a worshiping community that believes the same words, participates in the same sacraments, and serves the same Lord. Together we are pilgrims on a journey to the Father. In the Body of Christ, we are united not only with the living members of the Church but also with those believers who have gone before us into the next world. Acts of the Apostles 2:1 13 The Coming of the Holy Spirit Luke 18:16 Let the Children Come to Me , , 2041, 2043, 2180 recall important people and events in Salvation History. demonstrate greater familiarity with the books of the Bible. express a commitment to read and pray the Bible. identify who belongs to the Church and to the Communion of Saints, pray for the souls in Purgatory, and pray to the saints. describe what it means to be a good member of the Catholic Church. Buddhism Islam (Muslims) justification New Testament Old Testament Paschal Mystery Purgatory Salvation History Scripture Key Term for Your Information saint a person in heaven who practiced virtue while on earth part 2 Working With Your Children and Christ Our Life: New Evangelization Edition 47

5 GATHER AND GO FORTH CHAPTERS 1 25 Gather and Go Forth S 1-8 FOCUS: The new Gather and Go Forth pages at the end of every chapter respond directly to the Church s call for a New Evangelization. Material shows children how to know, proclaim, witness, share, and invite others to the Good News of Jesus Christ. The new pages encourage children to turn their hearts to God, share with others the Good News through their words and deeds, and take an active part in the life of the Church. Children live their faith and the goals of the New Evangelization when they use various features of the Gather and Go Forth pages: Scripture sidebar Scripture in every chapter helps children grow in understanding and love for God s Word, persuading them to embrace Jesus Christ and his Way. Know and Proclaim Faith facts and associated practices show children our unique identity as a Catholic people so children can be confident inviting others to faith. Test Your Catholic Knowledge A question that aligns with the NCEA IFG: ACRE provides practice in test taking and promotes children s understanding of a key faith concept. A Catholic to Know A brief biography of a saint shows a heroic life of Catholic witness who encourages children to live a life of holiness as a disciple of Jesus Christ. My Way to Faith statements allow children time to reflect on their Catholic beliefs so they can assess where they are on their path to holiness and where they d like to be! Share Your Faith Children are evangelizers when they make a discipleship promise to others, keep it, and then invite others to do the same. 140 Home Learning Guide