Program Concepts, Scriptures for Year One

Aspects

Pre-school

K-1

2-3

4-5

Middle School

High School

Notes

Personal Spirituality

1b) We serve God by offering time and talent.

We learn that giving of our time is a way to serve God, for example, through helping out at church by opening doors, or even smiling at our brothers and sisters.

We learn that loving God must be realized in actions. We learn in the Story of the Talents (Matthew 25:15) that God wants us to use what he has given us. We identify one gift or talent that God has given us, and how we use that talent for the good of others.

We read in the Story of the Talents (Matthew 25:15) that we are to use what God has given us for His kingdom. We consider what our talents are, perhaps helping with serving, sending cards to the sick, putting money aside for special collections.

We discuss how we are better able to identify our talents, and equipped to make a big difference by our offering of time and talent. We pinpoint ways we can offer our talents individually, and as a group, for the betterment of the church.

We identify ways we are presently serving in the Church, and in the world, and discuss what the future might hold as we assume adulthood. Vocations are discussed, and ways of offering time and talent are identified for those who may be priests, monks, or nuns, and those who will marry, or possibly be single for a long period.

1c) We serve God by tithing.

We recall that all we have comes from God, and we need to show God we love Him by sharing what we receive, with Him through the Church. We learn that we are to share something with God each week at the collection.

We recall that all we have comes from God, and we need to show God we love Him by sharing what we receive, with Him through the Church. We learn that we are to share something with God each week at the collection. We consider how good we feel when we contribute to Church.

We learn in the story of Moses after the Exodus (Lev 27:21-6) that Moses gave the first fruits in thanksgiving to God for salvation.

We learn that we our gifts at birthdays, and at Christmas are to be shared with God. We consider how we want to please God for all He has given us, and we bring in money for the collection each week, and after special occasions when we receive monetary gifts.

We read that Abram, in thanksgiving for his victory over Chedorlaoner, gave a tithe of all he had. (Genesis 14:17-20). We read that Jacob, Abraham’s grandson, had a vision from God. When he heard all that God would do for him, he made a vow to tithe from all God would give him. (Genesis 28:22). In the New Testament we read that Jesus said “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:32-33), and we read and consider how the story of the Widow’s Mite exemplifies the teaching (Luke 21:3). We consider how we can seek first the Kingdom, and how offering a tithe is essential to our seeking. We learn how to determine 1/10. We challenge ourselves to obey God’s word.

We realize that there is a great temptation to acquire material things, and that we can be owned by our possessions. We learn that God has given us a direct teaching through the words of Jesus, “No one can serve two masters . . .” (Matthew 6:24). We analyze how our society drives us to have more, as if that will make us popular. We review several the scriptures that show God desires a tithe, (Genesis 14:17-20, and 28:22, Lev 27:21-16, Numbers 18:21-26). In the New Testament we read that Jesus said “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:32-33), and how tithing is essential to placing God first in our lives. We consider how we are called to be stewards as we read from Malachi 3:10 about bringing full tithes and trusting God. We read the story of Ananias and Sapphira (     ………..)  We review how to determine 1/10. We challenge ourselves to do that from the gift, work or allowance money we receive.

We realize that there is a great temptation to acquire material things, and that we can be owned by our possessions. We learn that God has given us a direct teaching through the words of Jesus, “No one can serve two masters . . .” (Matthew 6:24). We analyze how our society drives us to have more, as if that will make us popular. In the New Testament we read that Jesus said “Seek first the kingdom of God” (Matthew 6:32-33), and how tithing is essential to placing God first in our lives. We consider how we are called to be stewards as we read from Malachi 3:10 about bringing full tithes and trusting God.  We review how to determine 1/10. We challenge ourselves to do that from the money we receive from work or allowance. We relate trust, servanthood, and thankfulness to tithing. We discuss how tithing enriches our spiritual life. We prepare to tithe from graduation gifts. We think about how we will need to pray, and trust  God, as we venture forth to college, jobs, and to finding a spouse.