Level 6, Chapter 1: "God Gives Us the Law ... - Diocese of Baker

Roman Catholic Diocese of Baker3. "Creation" (7:05-7:10 PM)Key Message Points We can know that God exists from the world around us. There is a certain order in whichthings happen (e.g., gravity, seasons). All creation testifies to the glory of God. (Ask forexamples. E.g., the complexity and order of the human eye or a tree.) God made man for a purpose: heaven. To get to heaven, we must do good and avoid evil. We are designed for this; it is written inour hearts. Humans everywhere believe there is a certain way we ought to act. Because of the effects of the Fall (Original Sin), we are prone to sin. Adam and Eve chose todisobey God. We are affected by their Original Sin. However, we have free will. We can choose good or evil. To be truly free, we must choose to do good. Being free from sin, we are guilt-free---freefrom what burdens us and holds us back.4. "God's Laws" (7:10-7:15 PM)Key Message Points In order to live in relationship, we must fulfill certain responsibilities. Can you be best friends with someone who is always lying to you or steals fromyou? God gave us the Ten Commandments or Decalogue ("ten words") so that we can livein relationship with God and one another He did not need to do this, as his Law was already written upon our hearts. Because of Original Sin, humans have a hard time recognizing the true good,so, in his love and mercy, God revealed his Laws to us. God wanted his people to know what was right and wrong and what wastruly good and truly bad for them because he loves us God wants a faithful people so we can share in his happy life The Ten Commandments (read Exodus 19:5---20:16 or use the "Ten CommandmentHandout" and discuss) The first three commandments teach us how to love God; the last seven how to loveour neighbor. We are not simply to be obedient to God's Laws; rather, we should want to keepthem to show our love for God; we should want to hear and obey his words. Jesus taught that the foundation of all law is love: to love God above all things, withone's whole mind and heart and soul, and to love one's neighbor as oneself. In keeping these commandments, we are made free. free from sin, free to follow God, and free to recognize and follow our Savior.5. "Conscience" (7:15-7:25 PM)Key Message Points God has given each person the ability to judge if something is right or wrong. This ability is called conscience and every person is born with a conscience. God gives us a conscience so that we could live according to his law. A conscience has to be taught---and taught correctly. We call this forming a conscience.Faith and Life Series, Lesson Plan Guide 3