Powerlife Assignments Archive
(Past assignments from Pastor Isaacson's 6th & 7th Grade Confirmation Class)
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6th Commandment 11/19/2003
Verse(s) of the Day: Exodus 20:14
Exodus 20:14 “You shall not commit adultery.”
Definitions:
Adultery-
Trust-
Faithfulness-
Questions:
1. Read Luther’s definition of this commandment, how can you lead a pure and decent life in word and deed?
2. Why do you think God gave us this commandment? Does listing this as a commandment tell you anything about how God values his gift of sexuality to us?
3. How does this commandment protect the vows of marriage? How does it protect all of the relationships (friends, family, children) that develop from a marriage?
4. Look up these two passages Matthew 5:27-28 and 1 John 1:8-9. What do these verses say? What is the positive message and what is the negative message?
5. Make a two lists. In the first list write everything done that describes what love is. In the second list write everything done that describes what love is not. for help look at 1 Corinthians 13
Show me GRACE:
Rewrite this commandment in a positive way.
Digging Deeper:
Read 2 Samuel 12:1-15. This precedes a chapter in which King David has an affair with a married woman—Bethsheba and she becomes pregnant. To cover up his sin David brings her husband (Uriah) back from the war in hopes that they will have intercourse and he will think that the child is his. Ironically Uriah is so loyal to David and has such a sense of duty that he refuses to go home to be with his wife. So in order to further cover up David’s sin he sends Uriah to the war front so that he will be killed. Sin on top of sin. Uriah is killed and David has Bethsheba come to live with him and become his wife. We pick up the story with Nathan visiting David. Nathan is God’s top prophet and holy man at the time. What does Nathan tell David? How does David react to Nathan’s story? What does Nathan tell David about how God feels? Who was affected by this affair? Who suffered the most?
Now read Psalm 51. This is David’s prayer/song to God seeking forgiveness from his sin. Do you think God forgave David? Why?
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5th & 7th Commandment 11/12/2003
5th Commandment
Students Guide
Verse(s) of the Day: Matthew 5:44
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.”
Definitions:
murder-
insult-
abuse-
protect-
Questions:
Read Matthew 5:21-22. How does Jesus define killing? Check the answer or answers that you think explain Jesus’ teaching.
____ murder ____ belittling someone’s self worth
____ giving someone a “rough time” ____ insulting someone with words
What are the three levels of anger that are mentioned in Matthew 5:21-22.
a.
b.
c.
What is the consequence of all three?
Read Matthew 5:23-26. How important is it to settle your differences with others?
Read James 4:1-2. It seems as though the writer is saying that there is a little war going on inside us and that sometimes it breaks out into a big war outside us. What do you think are some of the little wars?
6. What do you think are some of the big wars?
. Read Psalm 121 and answer the following questions.
How many times do the words “keep” or “keeper” appear in the psalm?
Does God ever take a break from the job of being your keeper? Explain.
How long will God keep your life?
What happens to your life when you die?
List ways we can promote life:
Read Genesis 1:26-28, 31; Genesis 9:6.
Why do you think God wants us to promote life?
How does this commandment give you freedom?
7th Commandment
Students Guide
Verse(s) of the Day: Ephesians 4:28
Thieves must give up stealing; rather let them labor and work honestly with their own hands, so as to have something to share with the needy.”
Definitions:
steal-
cheat-
improve-
income-
Questions:
. Read Amos 8:4-6. In this passage, Amos criticizes the greedy and dishonest merchants of his day who made money at the expense of poor people. These people were so greedy they could hardly wait until the holy days of the new moon and the Sabbath were over, so they could start making money again. Write an example of greedy behavior that goes on today.
In Amos 8:5, Amos tells how the merchants cheat their customers by fixing their scales. They made the ephah (the measure they used for grain) smaller and weighted down the scale to get more shekels (money). Write down an instance of dishonesty you have heard about.
Read Luke 10:29-37. The parable of the Good Samaritan talks about robbers and stealing, but it also points out that god expects us to help our neighbors. The priest and the Levite were the unconcerned persons who refused to help the victim. Do you think they were as much in the wrong as the robbers? Explain your answer.
Use these questions to guide a group discussion.
Have any of you ever had anything stolen from you? How did it make you feel?
Does one generation ever steal from another?
Can you think of any kinds of theft that don’t affect someone in some fashion?
What should you do if you know that someone has stolen something?
You always go to the same fast food place. On one occasion you discover that you were not charged for some of your food. What does it mean to be a good neighbor in this arrangement? Why?
Write your response to the following letter.
Dear Agnapheus,
Yesterday I went to a shopping center with a friend. We were looking at some socks when I saw her stuff a pair into her jacket pocket. Then she walked away. I’ve tried to talk to her about it, but she acts like nothing is wrong. What should I do? Tell someone? Or keep my mouth shut? I don’t want to go back to that store with her, or any store for that matter! What if she gets picked up when I’m with her? I don’t want to get mixed up in this!
Know Too Much
Dear Knows Too Much,
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________
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4th Commandment 11/05/2003
4th Commandment
Students Guide
Verse(s) of the Day: Exodus 20:12
Exodus 20:12 “Honor your father and your mother, so that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.”
Definitions:
Honor-
parents-
respect-
Questions:
1. The first three commandments deal specifically with our relationship with God, the next seven deal with our relationship with each other. Why do you think Luther continues to write “we are to fear and love God”, in his explanation if these commandments seem to deal more with our relationships with other humans?
2. Do you think this commandment is intended only for young people or is it for everyone?
3. At the end of this commandment the phrase “so that your days may be long” is included. What do you think that phrase means and why is it apart of this commandment?
4. How do you show honor to your parents and to those in authority?
Show me GRACE:
The focus on all 10 Commandments is that they are basic rules for a healthy community. If they were all followed all the time what would that community look like? How would it treat God, each other, visitors, etc?
Digging Deeper
How would this commandment be rewritten today? Think about all of the cases of child abuse that we hear on TV, abuses that happen in nursing homes, the courts are loaded with “dead beat dads” who are failing to make child support payments and other parental responsibilities that are not being met. Also consider these verses Ephesians 6:1-4. What happens when the roles of parents or children become abusive? What should our response be? What would God say about those abuses? Look up Matthew 22:37-40.
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2nd & 3rd Comandments 10/29/2003
Verse(s) of the Day: Exodus 20:7 & 8
Exodus 20:7 “You shall not make wrongful use of the name of the LORD your God, for the LORD will not acquit anyone who misuses His name.” Verse 8 “Remember the sabbath day and keep it holy.”
Definitions:
LORD-
Sabbath-
Swearing-
In vain-
Questions:
1. Notice in Luther’s definition to each commandment Luther says we are to fear and love God. What does it mean to fear and love God?
2. What ways do we use God’s name wrongly? How does one honor God’s name?
3. Do you think the 2nd Commandment is also intended to talk about swearing?
4. What does it mean to “remember the Sabbath Day and to keep it holy?”
5. Why does God make it a point to have this as a commandment? Is it really such a big deal to have a day of rest?
6. The first three commandments have sometimes been called tables of the law. Can you summarize each commandment with one word?
Show me GRACE:
Rewrite these commandments so that they are said in a positive way?
Digging Deeper
Have you ever planned a Sabbath Day? Take some time and plan your Sabbath Day. How would you plan it? Who would you spend it with? How would God be involved? What kinds of activities would you do? Would you go some where—outdoors, lake, downtown, etc.?
Write out your Sabbath Day and share it with the your small group.
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1st Commandment 10/22/2003
Ten Commandments: No Other Gods
Student Guide
Verse(s) of the Day: Exodus 20:5
You shall not bow down to [idols] or worship them; for I the Lord am a jealous God.” NRSV
Definitions:
God:
god:
sin:
Repent:
Think of some rules that don’t have reasons—senseless rules.
Now list some good rules.
Give a reason as to why it is a good rule.
Questions:
1. Why is God so concerned that we have no other gods?
2. Is this a commandment that restricts our enjoyment of life or expands our enjoyment of life? Why?
3. Why do you think this commandment comes first?
Read Matthew 22:37-38. Think of the passage as describing a three-volume set of books. The theme of the three books is “all you wanted to give God and more.” From verse 37, find appropriate titles for the books and write them here.
Volume 1:
Volume 2:
Volume 3:
Jesus spoke against people who used the Commandments rigidly. In an effort to protect the law, religious leaders in Jesus’ day often cared little if people were protected. Jesus wanted to make it clear what the intent was behind each Commandment. So Jesus put the Ten commandments into one word: LOVE!
Read Isaiah 44:9-20. The prophet Isaiah takes the reader on a guided tour of a “god factory.” As he points out the actions of the ironsmith and the carpenter, he reminds us of the uselessness of such activity. Then he ridicules the emptiness of such a religion.
When the god maker has completed carving and set up his god, he bows down before it and prays. What does the god maker pray? (verse 17)
What does Isaiah say that makes you suspect that the idol worshiper does not have spiritual satisfaction? (verses 18-20)
What do you think are some of the “god factories” around us today?
Since the time of Isaiah, do you think there has been any improvement in the ability of humanly created gods to fulfill our spiritual needs?
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Apostles' Creed - 3rd Article 10/08/2003
Verse(s) of the Day: Galatians 5:5
Galatians 5:5 “For through the Spirit, by faith, we wait for the hope of righteousness.”
Definitions:
Trinity-
catholic-
Holy Spirit-
Questions:
1 What does this article have us confess, have us believe in?
2 What does it mean to say that faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit?
3 Do you choose God or does God choose you?
4 Besides the believing in the Holy Spirit why is it important to express belief in the other statements in the this article?
the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting. Amen.
5 Summarize the three articles of the Apostle’s Creed. Some have used the words Create, Redeem, Sanctify to describe the works of God, Jesus and Holy Spirit. How could you put those words into your own words?
Show me GRACE:
How have you seen the Spirit working in your behalf?
Digging Deeper
There are a lot of Digging Deeper questions we could talk about. Particularly around the subject of death and resurrection. One topic could be suicide. What happens to a person who commits suicide. Are they resurrected and go to heaven? By committing suicide are they rejecting God’s love or is it a irrational act? Another discussion could be assisted suicides. Are they morally, ethically right? Do they break the “Thou shall not kill” commandment?
Here’s another Digging Deeper possibility isn’t as heavy. Have your students write a cinquain poem. This is a five line poem. The first line is the subject. Line 2 has 2 words that describe the subject. Line 3 has 3 words that describe an activity of the subject. Line 4 has 4 words that describe your feeling towards the subject. And the last line is one word that means the same as the first line.
Example:
Snow
White wet
Gently falling down
It make same smile
Flakes
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Apostles' Creed - 2nd Articles 10/03/2003
2nd Article of the Apostle’s Creed
Student Guide
Verse(s) of the Day: Matthew 1:21
Definitions:
Jesus:
Christ:
Incarnation:
Redemption:
Questions:
1. The Second Article of the Apostles’ Creed outlines Jesus’ life. Write out the verbs (words of action) used to tell us what Jesus did.
2. Jesus was fully God and fully man. Jesus knows what you are going through because He lived on this earth and completely identified with humankind. Jesus has the power to meet your needs because He is God. What important message is found in Hebrews 2:17, 18 and Hebrews 4:15?
3. Read John 3:16. What does it mean to you that God sent Jesus?
4. Read the following passages and find the words used for sin:
Romans 4:15 -
Galatians 3:19 -
Hebrews 8:12 -
Romans 5:15 and 5:17 -
Romans 3:23 -
5. Luther’s Small Catechism uses the format of question and answer. Each answer is as if we are personally answering each question. We speak of ourselves as “a lost and condemned person.” What does this mean?
6. Read Matthew 25:31-46. God shows us how important our bodies are. Jesus lists six kinds of bodily needs people have. List them and write what you could to to serve Jesus by serving others.
a.
b.
c.
d.
e.
f.
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Introduction to Luther and his catechism. 09/17/2003
Session 1 – Martin Luther and the Small Catechism NAME _________________
Ask each member in the group a high point of their week and a low point.
Read Romans 3:28. Define the following words:
Justified:
Faith:
Works:
Read Ephesians 2:8-9. Define the following words:
Saved:
Discuss the meaning of GOGG.
Lesson Definitions:
What happened on October 31, 1517?:
Who is Martin Luther?:
Protestant:
Indulgences:
Catechism:
Discussion:
Background. The Gospel is a story that describes God’s grace-filled relationship with God’s own creation in Jesus Christ. We also refer to the first fou books of the New Testament as the gospels (Matthew, mark, Luke, and John). Grace is often defined as undeserved love or undeserved forgiveness. It is the kind of forgiveness that totally surprises you.
Read the following story to the group. It is said that when Mahatma Gandhi boarded a train one day, a sandal slipped off his foot and landed beneath the train. The distinguished Indian leader did not have time to retrieve it. Quickly Gandhi removed the other sandal and threw it back down the track in the direction of the other sandal. When asked for an explanation, the teacher replied, “The poor man who finds the shoe lying on the track will now have a pair he can use.”
Ask participants. “What’s the one thing you can’t imagine someone doing for you?”
“What’s the one act for which you think you couldn’t be forgiven?”
Read Romans 5:6-8.
Share a time in your life when you experienced grace from God through someone else.
Share a time when you were offered an unexpected or undeserved act of grace, goodness, or forgiveness.
List definitions for the word gospel.
List definitions for the word grace.
Suggest some ways that you can share grace-filled acts with other this week.
Martin Luther fought boldy against authorities of his day to make faith accessible to all people. Why is it important that faith be accessible to all?
If you are struggling with understanding grace, consider this, Martin Luther struggled for years to find God’s grace to the point that he beat himself up over it. He read Galatians 3:16 and discovered a freedom of living in God’s grace through faith in Jesus Christ.
End your small group time using the “popcorn” prayer. During a time of silence people can say aloud one word at random as their prayer. They can pray for people, school, tests, pets, anything. Remember the highs and lows from the beginning and include these in the prayers. Encourage people to pray for each other.
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Apostles' Creed, First Article 09/12/2003
Verse(s) of the Day: Psalm 8:3-9
Psalm 8:3 - “I look at your heavens, which you made with your fingers. I see the moon and stars, which you created.” NCV
Definitions:
Almighty
Creator
Sustain
Questions:
1. What are the 2 key points of this article? Or said this way, what does this article have us confess, have us believe in?
2. What does it mean when we say God is our Father? Jesus called his Father “Abba” (Mark 14:36) which literally means “daddy.” What qualities do you think God has as a parent? Or what kind of qualities would you like God to have?
3. What does it mean to call God creator?
4. When God created humans, He created them in His image and called them very good. Do you see yourself created in the image of God? What characteristics of God do you see in yourself?
5. Luther in his explanation of this article says that God does more than just create things, God sustains things. How does God sustain his creation? How does God sustain you?
Show me GRACE:
How does God show or demonstrate His love to His Creation? How can we?
Digging Deeper:
What do you know and understand about cloning? Is it the same, a little different or way different than creating? In other words, are we taking God out of the act of creating? If we keep on this path of creating and understanding how animals and humans are put together (their DNA) are we going to be at the point where we will be able to make designer humans. And is this a good thing or bad thing or even the right thing to do? Psalm 139:13 talks about God forming us in our mother’s womb, are we now forming people in test tubes. Is this a violation of God’s will, God’s prerogative i.e., God’s right, privilege?
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Questions for Hans Vigesaa? Send him an e-mail message.
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