Church Library Online: Faith & Works for Children

 

 

Teaching Living & Sharing One's Faith

 

 Evelyn Smith

 

Although the Protestant Reformation is responsible for the idea that believers are saved by their faith alone, Protestants and Catholics alike emphasize that one's deeds can share or conversely detract from the Christian faith. Hence, in today's self-centered world, it is increasingly necessary for parents, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School teachers, youth leaders, and ministers to teach the fundamentals of faith to children--The Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments, and the Apostle's Creed--as well as demonstrating how today's disciples can show their love of God by how they live their lives. All of this might seem like a lot of old-fashioned memorization, but in the end, it's about incorporating these truths into individual personal belief systems and sharing one's belief with others both through words and  actions.  Thus, I am most thankful for my mother and dad as well as numerous teachers throughout my childhood who shared their own personal belief that Jesus was their savior and passed their faith on to me by setting examples of how one should lead a faith-centered life.

 

 Teaching Preschoolers & Elementary-Age Pupils the Ten Commandments
 

 

Primary Sources:

Exodus 20: 1-20; Deuteronomy 5:5-21 (NIV).  (n. d.).  Bible Gateway.  Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus+20%3A1-20%2CDeuteronomy+5%3A5-21&version=NIV

 

While some lesson plans and activities concentrate on memorization others attempt to explain the Ten Commandments, often putting them in contemporary American English. Most sources, however, divide the ten commandments in two parts:

 

1) How believers should focus their lives on the love of God;

2)  How believers relate to others, thus showing their love of God.

 

The following link breaks down the interpretation of the Ten Commandments into the exact language used by Jews, Protestants, and Catholics.

 

The Ten Commandments List. (2015). Retrieved from http://www.10commandmentslist.com/

Secondary Sources:

 

The Aseret-ha-Dibrot: 
Hebrew for the "Ten Sayings"

The Aseret-ha-Dibrot are just part of the teachings of the Torah!

Any in-depth study of the Ten Commandments as well as preparation for teaching them should begin with how Judaism places the Ten Commandments, or “Assert-ha-Dibrot”, in a wider context than just ten rules to live by since Jewish law commands that believers follow all 613 mitvot, all of which are “equally binding and sacred” (Rich, 2011, para. 1).  While the Web pages below are aimed at an adult audience, delving into Jewish teachings on the Ten Commandments will help Protestant and Catholic adult leaders teach the Ten Commandments to elementary school age children. 

 

Parsons, John J. (n. d.). Ten Commandments:  Torah and Midrash on Aseret Ha-Dibrot.  Hebrew for Christians. Retrieved from http://www.hebrew4christians.com/Scripture/Torah/Ten_Cmds/ten_cmds.html

 

The Midrash explains—and Orthodox Jews literally believe—that the “finger of G-d” wrote the first five words of a set of rules that summarizes the complete Torah on blue sapphire stone, giving them to Moses on Mount Sinai (Parsons, n. d., para. 8 and 17).  This link also provides an audio link of the Ten Commandments read in Hebrew. 

 

Rich, Tracey. (2011).  Aseret-ha-Dibrot.  The Ten Commandments.  Judaism 101.  Retrieved from  http://www.jewfaq.org/10.htm

 

The “Ten Commandments are more accurately interpreted as the “ten sayings”; however, the phrase works equally well if Christians interpret these as summary statements because Jewish teaching actually require those who would follow “The Ten Commandments” to adhere more strictly to the spirit of each law, expanding the saying to encompass different application of the commandment.  For example,
 

•  “Taking “God’s name in vain” encompasses not only perjury and swearing, but it also covers speaking His name unnecessarily.  Thus, professing one's faith and then not acting like someone who truly means it would illustrate how not to keep this commandment.  Many Jewish Websites so literally interpret this commandment that they don't completely spell out words like "G-d".

• Remember the Sabbath Day not only encompasses all laws related to Shabbat (or the Jewish Sabbath); moreover, it requires the keeping of all holy days and sacred times.

• Honoring your father and mother extends to respecting teachers.

• “Thou shalt not kill” not only prohibits murder, but it additionally forbids committing any act that would harm another person.  Thus, children should learn that this law forbids bullying, all forms of harassment, and name calling.

•  Adultery also rules out all “sexual immorality”.

•  Not stealing additionally outlaws unfair business practices, cheating on tests, and plagiarism.

• Bearing false witness extends to all sins related to speech.

(Rich, 2011, para. 4)

 

Weiss, Avi. (2001, July).  Shabbat forshpeis: A taste of Torah in honor of Shabbat.  Hebrew Institute of Riverdale.  Retrieved from http://www.hir.org/a_weekly_gallery/1.24.03-weekly.html

 

Not only do children owe their existence to their mother and father as well as God, but their parents are also responsible for teaching their children “the spiritual message of Judaism” (Weiss, 2001, para. 2 & 3) —and by extension, Christianity. Thus, Weiss concludes that the mitzvah [or commandment] that requires children to honor their parents “was not randomly placed on the side of the tablets that deals with God. It is a relationship that in many ways is beyond the human realm for, in its very biological and spiritual nature, it so closely reflects the Divine” (Weiss, 2001, para. 8).

 

Protestant Lesson Plans & Activities for the Ten Commandments
 

 

Arnold, Jeff. (2011 November 14).  The Ten Commandments for kids.  Banner.  Retrieved from http://www.thebanner.org/news/2011/11/the-ten-commandments-for-kids

 

This delightful article provides a version of the Ten Commandments that children will understand as well as providing a version of the Ten Commandments if God texted them; for example, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me” becomes “no1bme. Srly.”

 

Guenther Leanne. (2015).  The story of Moses and the 10 Commandments.  DLTK's Sites.  Retrieved from http://www.dltk-bible.com/exodus/moses_and_the_10_commands-cv.htm

 

Guenther's retelling of the story of Moses and the Ten Commandments needs proofing as evidenced by the second sentence in the first paragraph, but it does provide a guide as to how a teacher or parent might explain the meaning of the Ten Commandments to children.

 

How to teach the Ten Commandments with a fun Bible game.  (2015).  Christianity Cove.  Retrieved from http://www.christianitycove.com/this-game-helps-teach-the-ten-commandments-to-kids-0727/1318/

 

Write each of the Ten Commandments on the underside of ten different footprints placed on the floor.  Participants then form a line behind the first footprint and then vie to correctly repeat all the commandments in order until they reach the end of the trail; at which point, the first person to do so wins the game.  To add to the fun, make a set of ten flash cards with the number on one side and the commandment on the other side.

 

Mollohan, Felicia.  (n. d.).  The Ten Commandments for kids (Children's Bible lesson).  Ministry to children.  Retrieved from http://ministry-to-children.com/ten-commandments-lesson-for-kids

 

Mollahan gears her lesson plan for children from kindergarten through fifth grade and includes links to signs, a booklet, and a mini book, each containing an illustrated and simplified version of the Ten Commandments. The links to the songs are private, however. She groups some of the commandments together under one commandment that young children can more easily understand;  for example, commandments six and seven—Do not kill; do not commit adultery”--become one rule: Don't hurt anyone.  Honor God's plan for families by making good decisions.”

 

Rickman, Becky Lee. (2014).  Teaching your children about the Ten Commandments.  Familyshare.  Retrieved from http://familyshare.com/teaching-your-children-about-the-10-commandments

 

Rickman provides commentary that helps parents explain the meaning of the Ten Commandments to their children.

 

The Ten Commandments. (n. d.).  Retrieved from http://www.the-ten-commandments.org/the-ten-commandments-quiz.html

 

Web page lists the Ten Commandments as found in Exodus 20 of the King James Version of the Bible on the left side and then provides a simplified form of them on the right side.  Additionally, the Web page further condenses the Ten Commandments by breaking them down into two big rules:  “Love God with all your heart soul, and mind” and “Love others as much as you love yourself.”

 

Ten commandments, Bible crafts and activities for Sunday School.   (2000). Daniellesplace.com.  Retrieved from http://www.daniellesplace.com/HTML/bible_themes_ten-commandments.html

 

Website simplifies the Ten Commandments as well as providing links for lesson plans and activities.

 

Daniellesplace.com explains the Ten Commandments to young children by talking about the importance of obeying rules,  putting the Ten Commandments on Popsicle sticks, and coming up with a mnemonic device:  BINS-- 1) Put no other gods before God. 2) Don't worship idols. 3) No swearing in God's name; 4) Remember the Sabbath  to keep it holy—5) Honor your mother and father—MAST 6) Do not murder; 7) Do not commit adultery; 8) Do not steal; 9) Do not give false testimony; 10) Covet:  Do not covet what others have.

 

Ten commandments for children. (2010).  GraspingGod.com.  Retrieved from http://www.graspinggod.com/ten-commandments-for-children.html

 

This Web page first raises preliminary Bible study questions before providing a theological an historical background for the Ten Commandments:  Disobeying God's laws is sin, and everyone has sinned.  Even so, believers show their love for God by obeying his Ten Commandments.  The site goes on to link the Ten Commandments to the New Testament listing them as they are restated in the New Testament and provides a model prayer that reinforces the lesson.

 

Ten Commandments for kids. (2012, December 8).  Biblestoryprintables.com  Retrieved from http://biblestoryprintables.com/blog/2010/12/08/ten-commandments-for-kids/

 

Website provides printable study helps and games that teach the Ten Commandments to children, including bookmarks coloring pages, sequencing, and matching games.

 

The Ten  Commandments for kids: Child-centered approach to teaching the Ten Commandments for kids.  (2015).  Preschools4all.com.  Retrieved from http://www.preschools4all.com/ten-commandments-for-kids.html

 

This lesson plan calls for establishing an emotional response from preschool children through audience participation in the story of Moses' bringing of the Ten Commandments down from Mount Sinai while a preparatory discussion opens up the topic by asking three important questions:

•  Why do we have rules?

• What would the world be like without any rules?

• Why would God command us to follow these rules?

Learning God's Laws: Not for 
Catholics Only Webpages

 

This excellent bibliography provide links that are helpful to both Catholic and Protestant educators.  While Protestant educators should note that the wording of the Ten Commandments is slightly different in the Catholic and Protestant Bibles the ideas presenting here will work for all Christian denominations.

 

Dees, Jared.  (2012, March  13). A Ten Commandments activity.  The Religion Teacher.  Retrieved from http://www.thereligionteacher.com/ten-commandments-activity/

 

Working in pairs, students rewrite the Ten Commandments, turning the shalt nots into positive statements; for instance, “Thou shalt not have any other gods before me” becomes “Love the Lord with all your heart  your soul, your mind.”  In other words, loving God and showing it by loving others should be the most important thing in your life. Dees also provides definitions for “adultery” and “covet”.  While preschoolers and children in the early elementary grades don't need to know the exact meaning of adultery,  children in the older elementary grades quite possibly understand more than many teachers and parents realize, so a generalized definition of adultery—romantically loving someone who isn't your wife or husband--can be  be added to their vocabulary.

 

The Ten Commandments.  (2012).  Resources for Catholics Educators.  Retrieved from http://www.4catholiceducators.com/10comm.htm

 

This collection of theological references that range from St. Thomas Aquinas to a useful Protestant link and EWTN Website's interpretation also provides several links explaining the Decalogue to young children.

 

Ten commandments lessons. (n. d.).  Sunday School Network.  Retrieved from http://www.christiancrafters.com/lessons-ten-commandments.html

Butler, Emmalea. (2004).  Cleanup the trash. Ten Commandment lessons.  Sunday School Network.  Retrieved from http://www.christiancrafters.com/sermon_cleanup.html 

This activity has children pick up the wadded strips of paper on the floor, featuring sentiments like these: 
 

• “I took the candy bar from the grocery store.  They won't miss just one candy bar.” 

• “I'll beg Dad to get me a bike like my friend has.” 

• “Nobody pushes me around, I'll beat them up.”

• Children then tie these statements to the different ten commandments. 

------. (2013).  Ten things to know about Heaven from the Ten Commandments.  Retrieved from http://www.christiancrafters.com/lesson_ten-commands-and-heaven.html 

Butler explains that knowing the Ten Commandments tells believers ten truths they should know about Heaven. 

Keith, Sarah A. (2002).  The Greatest commandment. Sunday School Network.  Retrieved from  http://www.christiancrafters.com/game_greatest.html 

Cut up the Ten Commandments and have pupils arrange them in order.  Then tie this activity into Matthew 12: 1-14 and Matthew 22:34-40, thus emphasizing that putting God first means sharing your love for others. 

------. (2013).  No other gods.  Sunday School Network.  Retrieved from http://www.christiancrafters.com/lesson_nogods.html 

Lesson explains why God gave Moses the Ten Commandments as well as providing a skit and flashcards to supplement this teaching.  The full skit is available for purchase, but teenagers and older elementary school kids could easily come up with their own skit, using the Online opening for their inspiration. 

Again, the flashcards are also available for purchase Online, but the children could just as easily make their own flashcards. 

------. (1997).  Ten Commandments: Bible Games. Sunday School Network.  Retrieved from http://www.christiancrafters.com/games-ten-commands.html 

Children play games to better understand the Ten Commandments.  Activities include the following free games: 

• Hot Bricks: This version of musical chairs requires a participant to recite a commandment that hasn't been previously named when the music stops.  

• Come on Up, Moses!  Children climb up a set of stairs retrieving the Ten Commandments out of order whereupon they place them in correct numerical order.  

This link this the Protestant version of the Ten Commandments based on the NIV version of the Bible in positive form alongside the negative version found in Exodus 20. 

Kerlin, Jim. (2000).  Ten commandments. Children's Sermons.  Retrieved from http://childrensermons.com/commands/ 

Kerlin emphasizes that the first four Ten Commandments [in the Protestant version of the Bible] stress how to behave towards God while the last six focus on how people should treat others. 

The Ten Commandments. (n. d.). Ainglkiss.com. Retrieved from http://www.ainglkiss.com/10com/ 

A handy chart provides parallel Catholic and Protestant versions of the Ten Commandments. 

Old Testament stories.  Lesson 29:  10 Commandments. (2010).  Kidsclubs4jesus. Retrieved from http://kidsclubs4jesus.com/OT1-60/OT29.pdf 

Website contains crossword puzzle, and word search, coloring page, Bible quiz, memory verses, and devotionals on The Ten Commandments.

 

The Ten Commandments.  (n. d.).  Old Testament Curriculum.  Retrieved from http://children.cccm.com/OTTeacherGuidePDF/CUROT043.pdf

 

As part of a larger Old Testament curriculum a teacher's guide and support curriculum on the Ten Commandments features lesson plans, a New Testament memory verse, and a lesson theme.  Children can learn the Ten Commandments by playing a circle game and doing the limbo—an activity that emphasizes that no one can meet God's standards.

 

Youtube Teaches the 
Ten Commandments

  

Davis, Annette. (2013, March 4).  Learn Ten Commandments in four minutes.  Remember forever. Youtube. (3:47 minutes).  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3MZnOPmWVY

 

Salvation Army video instructs users on how to use hand motions as a memory device to learn the ten commandments in their numerical order.

 

Fitzgerald, Jacquob. (2012, October 2).  Ten Commandments Song for Kids. Youtube.  (3:00 minutes). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zVjqdPvkY94

 

Children sing the Ten Commandments song as opposed to an adult singing it.

Kumar, Kranthi. (2013, September 9).  Ten commandments song for kids by Aradana TV.  (1:57 minutes).  Youtube. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B3MZnOPmWVY

 

This video should inspire children and youth groups to create their own video on The Ten Commandments.

 

Shank Joe. (2010 July 28).  Ten commandments song for kids.  Youtube.  (2:56 minutes). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rMgLH316HJ8

____________

 

Teaching Children How to Pray: 
The Lord's Prayer



Prayer should be part of everyday life.

Primary Source: 

Matthew 6: 9-13 (NIV).  (n. d.).  Bible Gateway.  Retrieved from https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+6%3A+9-13&version=NIV

 

Secondary Sources:

Desire. (2012, February 15).  Teaching your child to pray: The Lord's Prayer (For me or for us?). When You Rise.  Retrieved from http://www.whenyourise.com/2012/02/teaching-your-child-to-pray-lords.html

  

This blog reminders worshipers of Martin Luther's point that it's more than a personal prayer (hence the use of the personal pronouns our, us, and we).  However, it can serve as a model for personal prayer.

Elmblad, Shelley.  (2015).  4 prayer activities for children.  About.religion.  Retrieved from http://christianity.about.com/od/parentingresources/qt/SE-Prayer-Activities.htm

 

Parents should start and end each day with their children in prayer.  This is particularly important if a child is anxious about the day's activities.  Following the five-fingered ACTS prayer (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication) helps them to remember the multifaceted aspects of prayer, which can also be tied into the Lord Prayer as well.  Appropriately selected gospel songs and hymns can additionally help children learn how to pray.


 

------.  (2014).  Teaching children to pray.  About.religion.  Retrieved from http://christianity.about.com/od/prayersverses/qt/childrenprayers.htm

 

Elmblad stresses that parents can teach their children to pray beginning at a very early age if they emphasize that prayer is talking to God and let their children see them praying. Children can thus start out repeating an adult's prayer, putting what a parent or teacher says in their own words:  Thanking God for His love; asking God to forgive them their mistakes and petitioning for His help.
 

Harmon, Jesse. (2012, April 19). Martin Luther and the Lord's Prayer.  A Learning Lutheran.  Retrieved from http://a-learning-lutheran.blogspot.com/2012/04/martin-luther-and-lords-prayer.html 

 

Luther believed that one should not use sophisticated words in prayer, but instead Christians follow the format of the Lord's prayer—a petition that should humble the petitioner.  Furthermore, Luther cautioning that using God's name to justify war and sinning takes the name of the Lord in vain. 

Prayer guide for Presbyterian elders. (n. d.).  Elder Institute.  Presbyterian Church of Canada.  Retrieved from http://www.eldersinstitute.ca/www_get/Prayer%20Guide%20for%20Presbyterian%20Elders.pdf 

Jesus gave his disciples the Lord's Prayer as a model for praying.  Thus, brevity is important as is including adoration, confession, thanksgiving, intercession, and thanksgiving in prayer. The major points in this guide for elders can also be used when teaching children how to pray:

 

• Prayer is speaking to God; 

• Prayer pleases God; it soften the hearts of those who prayer, so they can know him;

• God wants those who believe in Him to pray; 

• Prayer increases and strengthens faith; 

• Prayer helps those praying resist temptation;

 

• Prayer encourages believers in times of hardship; 

•  Prayer shows the petitioners' willingness to trust in God's will for their lives; 

• Prayer is vital for fellowship with other believers; 

• God works through prayer (and the people who pray); 

• God is near those who pray when they pray.

Games, workshop lessons and ideas for the Lord's Prayer. (2013, July 21).  Editor: Luanne Payne. Workshop Rotation Ideas and Lesson Exchange. Retrieved from http://www.rotation.org/topic/lords-prayer-games-lesson-from-sally

 

Contributors to this blog exchange lesson plans for teaching children the Lord's Prayer, explaining the meaning of each phrase, and putting them in order as well as applying the prayer to their own lives.

 

Guenther, Leanne. (2015). The Lord's Prayer.  DLTK's Growing Together.  Retrieved from http://www.dltk-bible.com/guides/lords_prayer.htm

 

The teacher's guide provides links on how to teach the Lord's Prayer for grades preschool through first grade as well as a link for teaching second and third graders. Similarly children can make either an easy or an older version of a praying hands silhouette.  As for snacks, with a little help, children can make homemade pretzels—a snack that owns its origin to a way monks during the Middle Ages taught converts to pray.

 

Hollowell, Karen. (2015).  How to teach kids the Lord's Prayer.  Global Post.  Retrieved from http://everydaylife.globalpost.com/teach-kids-lords-prayer-46544.html

 

Hollowell recommends teaching the Lord's Prayer into sections, teaching one phrase at a time holding up a finger while the adult recites it and the child repeats the phrases.  She also recommends performing activities such as baking bread to illustrate the phrase “give us each day our daily bread” to help illustrate the meaning of each phrase. Along with a parent or teacher explaining the meaning of the prayer, children need to see their parents acting as a role model, praying this prayer as well as incorporating other prayers in their daily life.

 

How to teach kids the Lord's Prayer. (2012, March 15). Biblefunfactory.com.  Retrieved from http://biblefunfactory.com/86/how-to-teach-kids-the-lords-prayer/

 

This Web page urges adult leaders to interpret the Lord's Prayer line-by-line by using visual imagery as well as explaining words that the children might not be familiar with, such as hallowed, temptation and debts, and debtors or trespasses and trespassers. Children can also learn to sing the Lord's Prayer.

 

Kraft, Tamera. (2013, July 8).  Teaching children to pray using a model.  Revival Fire for Kids. Retrieved from http://revivalfire4kids.com/tag/teaching-children-the-lords-prayer/

 

Kraft uses the Lord's Prayer paired with different fingers as well as the acronyms ACT (adoration, confession, thanksgiving, and supplication) and PRAY (praise, repent, act, and yield) to teach children how to pray.

 

Kummer Tony. (2015).  Teaching the Lord's Prayer to Children. Ministry-To-Children.  Retrieved from http://ministry-to-children.com/lords-prayer-index/

 

Kummer breaks down the Lord's Prayer into ten separate lesson links:

 

•                     What Is Prayer?

 

•                     Do's and Do not's of Praying

 

•                     Our Father in Heaven

 

•                     Let Your Name Be Kept Holy

 

•                     May Your Kingdom Come Soon

 

•                     Your Will Be Done on Earth

 

•                     Give Us Today the Food We Need

 

•                     Forgive Our Sins

 

•                     Guard Us from Temptation and the Devil

 

•                     Praise Belongs to the Lord

 

Corresponding coloring pages and craft projects reinforce this model prayer.

 

The Lord's Prayer for Children. (2015).  Fresh Expressions.  Retrieved from http://www.freshexpressions.org.uk/guide/worship/prayer-children

 

This British Website first suggests considering the age of the children who are learning the Lord's Prayer, focusing more on the meaning of the words with older children while simultaneously using it in worship services.  An adult leader or parent can also answer questions posed as children compete crafts and activities.  Everyday props, such as a world map or globe, when paired with the phrase "thy kingdom come", might also illustrate the lines of the Lord's Prayer.

 

The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:5-15).  (2015).  DLTK's Bible Activities for Kids. Retrieved from http://www.dltk-bible.com/jesus/lords_prayer-index.htm

 

Links provide different versions of the Lord's Prayer, coloring books, crafts, songs, games, and worksheets.

 

Our Father/Lord's  Prayer Activities.  (2011, September 11). The Catholic Toolbox.  Retrieved from 

http://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/2011/09/our-fatherlords-prayer-activities.html

 

Although the primary audience for this Web page remains Catholic educators, it also can provide on-point resources for Protestant teachers and parents: links to coloring pages, worksheets, crafts, such as creating a Lord's Prayer magnet, and games; for example, placing the phrases of the Lord's Prayer in their proper order. 

 

Teaching the Lord's Prayer. (n. d.).  In Lieu of Preschool.  Retrieved from http://www.inlieuofpreschool.com/teaching-the-lords-prayer/

 

This blogger recommends reciting the prayer orally, focusing on only a few lines at a time, adding additional lines each day.  She also provides child-friendly links teaching the Lord's prayer as well as linking for Lord's prayer coloring pages and songs.

 

Teach us to pray. (n. d.).  Dear Teacher.  Retrieved from http://teachustopray.com/Puzzle.asp

 

Putting together in the correct order the pieces of this puzzle should help children learn the Lord's Prayer within three days to a week.

 

White, Charles. (n. d.).  Teach us to Pray.  Retrieved from http://www.teachustopray.com/

 

Web page contains a PDF of 24 coloring pages explaining the Lords Prayer while a  prayer week schedule allots each day a type of pray activity; for instance, on Tuesday, children make a prayer jar [or box], and on Thursday, they make a list of prayer partners.

 

The Lord's Prayer on Youtube

  

Our Father: Lord's Prayer song with lyrics.  Bible Readeez.  (2:15 minutes). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fjQB0Kr8gzg

 

Graphics provide the singer the words for the Lord's Prayer.

 

The Lords Prayer Music Video.  (Children's edition directed by Marti Morris).  (2011, October 10). (1:54 minutes).  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e6STLRycSnE

 

The Asbury United Methodist Church Children's Choir  of Tulsa, Oklahoma, performs “The Lord's Prayer” complete with hand motions.

 

Yolanda Adams—The Lord's Prayer.  (2011, March 15).  (2:54 minutes).  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k9zPrDtIiU

 

This video records the lyrical version of the Lord's Prayer that most American Christians are most likely to know.

 

Teaching Teens the Apostles' Creed

  

 

Apostles' Creed. (n. d.).  Reformed.org.  Retrieved from http://www.reformed.org/documents/apostles_creed.html

 

When children start to learn the Apostles' Creed depends upon their basic understanding of Christianity, so leaders may want to defer these lessons until students enter middle school.

Apostles' Creed activities. (2012, August 20).  The Catholic Toolbox.  Retrieved from http://catholicblogger1.blogspot.com/2012/08/apostles-creed-activities.html

 

Website provides links to lesson plans, coloring pages crafts games, crosswords word searches, and worksheets that teach the Apostles' Creed.

 

Apostles' Creed  ideas (not complete lesson plans. (2014, July 29).  Neil MacQueen, Editor. Workshop Rotation Ideas  & Lesson Exchange.  Retrieved from http://www.rotation.org/topic/apostles-creed-ideas-not-complete-lesson-plans

 

Visitors to Website contribute lesson plans, including having students create their own wall mural on the Apostles' Creed as well as creating their own video or a commercial stating what it means to be a Christian.

 

The Apostles' Creed Study—Amazon Web Services. (2011). The Worship, the Word & the Way.  Resource Well.  Retrieved from http://resourcewell.s3.amazonaws.com/children/otherresources/ApostlesCreedStudy.pdf

 

Study guide backs up each statement of belief in the Apostles' Creed with a scriptural reference.

 

Donohue, Cee. (2015).  How to teach the Apostles' Creed for kids.  ehow.  Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_8527352_teach-apostles-creed-kids.html

 

To start the study of the Apostles' Creed, each statement should be explained individually and then organized into smaller groupings:  The first three statements, the middle four articles, and the last five beliefs.  The first three articles confess belief in the Trinity and the Virgin birth.  The second groups tells what happened to Jesus, and the last five profess belief in the Holy Ghost, the universal church, the forgiveness of sins, and the resurrection.

 

Gilkerson, Luke.  (2013 July 12).  Five reasons to teach kids the Apostles' Creed.  Intoxicated on Life. Retrieved from http://www.intoxicatedonlife.com/2013/07/12/teach-kids-the-apostles-creed

 

Gilkerson provides five reasons why both Protestant and Roman Catholic chIldren should learn the Apostles' Creed:

1. The Apostles' Creed teaches that Christianity is confessional.
2.  The memorization of belief connects today's children with a Christian heritage and an oral tradition.
3.  It teaches them to value Christian traditions and church history.
4.  Not only is the Apostles' Creed an important statement of the Roman Catholic faith, but it also states the fundamental beliefs of the Protestant faith.  Martin Luther's Small Cathechism included the Ten Commandments, the Lord's Prayer, and the the Apostles' Creed; John Calvin set it to music to make it easier to memorize, and John Wesley called it “a beautiful summary” of faith.
5. It summarizes the essential beliefs of the Christian faith.

 

 

How to teach the Apostles' Creed.  (n. d.).  Wiki How.  Retrieved from http://www.wikihow.com/Teach-the-Apostles%27-Creed

 

This how to article suggests beginning with a brief introduction of how the Apostles and Nicene Creeds originated before teaching the words of the Apostle's Creed, encouraging children to repeat these statements of belief until they have memorized them.  Finally, it suggests rewarding the students for their memorization skills [perhaps with a certificate].  

 

Lesson IV:  The Apostles' Creed.  (n. d.).  The Real Presence.  Retrieved form http://www.therealpresence.org/courses/lesson4.htm

 

Although this Web page presents the Apostles' Creed from the Roman Catholic viewpoint, it also provides some points for Protestants to ponder.  The Web page recommends requiring students to recite the Apostles' Creed aloud by memory as well as to memorize it by writing it out on paper. It also suggests using the words of the creed as a basis of meditation, putting it to music, and comparing it to the Nicene Creed.

 

McCabe Kristi. (2010, June 5).  Apostles' Creed lesson plan by Kristi McCabe.  Catholic Mom.  Retrieved from http://catholicmom.com/2010/06/05/apostles%E2%80%99-creed-lesson-plan-by-kristi-mccabe/

 

McCabe suggests beginning the lesson on the Apostle's Creed with a history of its origin, followed by asking the children questions defining what is a creed and why it is important to state what the followers of Jesus believe about Him.  Children can then placed the mixed up statements of the creed in their proper order.

 

Palmbos Marcia. (1998, March).  I believe: A service on the Apostles' Creed led by children.  Reformed Worship. Retrieved from http://www.reformedworship.org/article/march-1998/i-believe-service-apostles-creed-led-children

 

After studying the Apostles' Creed for a year, children led a worship service in which a hymn explained  each statement in this statement of Christian belief.

 

Reed, G. L. (n. d.).  What is the Apostles'  Creed.  Teaching Guide.  Abingdon Press.  Retrieved from http://images.umph.org/Cokesbury/9780687642335.pdf

 

Students learn that a creed is a statement of beliefs and then spend five minutes putting into their own words each statement that is part of the creed.  The lesson should also requires that students familiarize themselves with words like “ascended” and “catholic” (in the universal sense).  At the end of the lesson, students may want to write their own personal statement of belief.

 

Reedy, David D. (2005).  Lesson 5: Maker of Heaven and Earth.  Lutheran Resources. Retrieved from http://www.lutheran-resources.org/10_lessons_5.htm

 

The lesson exams the Apostles' Creed, the Nicene Creed and the Athanasian Creed as mission statements or Constitutions.  This particular lesson studies in detail the first statement of belief--”I believe in God”--backing up this statement with scripture.

 

We proclaim our belief. (2013).  Loyola Press.  Retrieved from http://www.loyolapress.com/we-proclaim-our-belief-apostles-creed-activity.htm

 

Using a poster of the Apostles' Creed, students work  in pairs, taking turns reading and explaining the meaning of each statement in the creed to each other and then saying the first eight lines of the Apostles' Creed from memory, prompting each other as necessary.