EXPLORE
Explore The Members of God’s Kingdom Jesus’ words tell us what belonging to God’s kingdom means. Members
Ask a volunteer to retell the story of Jesus and the child. Say: Think about a time when you trusted and depended on God. Invite children to share their own experiences. Emphasize that the story of Jesus and the child reminds us to trust in God.
of God’s kingdom accept God’s direction for their lives. God first revealed that direction in the Old Testament—especially in the Ten Commandments. The Old Testament law is completed in the New Testament. To live the New Law means to practice Christian virtue and live in the grace of the Holy Spirit.
2 Connect
The Son of God became man to proclaim the Kingdom of God. Jesus gave God’s direction for us under the New Law in the Beatitudes. They tell us how to share in God’s life and be happy. They teach Christian virtue. How can we grow in virtue? We can study the meaning of the Beatitudes, live out their values, and keep on trying to follow them when it is difficult. Through the Holy Spirit, we receive the grace we need to
Jesus preaching the Beatitudes, Elizabeth Wang.
practice Christian virtue, which the Beatitudes express. When we live the Beatitudes, we are living as members of God’s kingdom. We are acting as a sign of God’s goodness in the world. We are bringing happiness to others—and to ourselves.
Find the Beatitudes The Beatitudes are part of Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount. Read them in Matthew 5:3–12. On a separate sheet of paper, draw a way in which you can live the Beatitudes. Use colored pencils or crayons to illustrate your beatitudes.
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SESSION 4 • God Directs Our Lives
If Time Allows
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Invite children to begin a “Live the Beatitudes” campaign. Have them make and display posters for each Beatitude that will inspire others to live as members of God’s kingdom. Then help children make a brochure with all the Beatitudes and ways to adopt that mind-set in everyday life. Photocopy the brochures and have children distribute them to other children.
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The first word in each Beatitude in the Greek text is makarios, meaning “happy.” In Matthew’s Gospel it conveys the deep joy that comes from serving God’s kingdom and having a positive direction for our lives.
Have children read the section silently. Then ask: What are God’s directions in the Old Testament? (the Commandments) What are they under the New Law? (the Beatitudes) Why did Jesus give us the Beatitudes? (to show us how to share in God’s life fully and to be happy) Why are the Beatitudes important to follow? (They help us live as members of God’s kingdom and act as signs of God’s goodness in the world.) Invite children to name any of the Beatitudes. Ask children to give examples of living the Beatitudes in their everyday lives. Direct children to the final paragraph. Then give each child a Bible or have children turn to page 209 in their books. Have children locate the Scripture verse cited. Instruct children to read the Beatitudes and choose one to illustrate. Say: We live the Beatitudes every day by living as members of God’s kingdom.
3 Close Display Art Print 4: Saint Philip Neri. Use the Art Print 4 instruction to teach this section. Art Print teaching instruction can also be found on page 228.
Saint Philip Neri
Art Print 4
Family and Community
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