♰ St. Mark Coptic Church Sunday School 11th Grade Lesson 1 A) The Holy Bible as Drama B) The Psalms the Emotions of Christ OVERVIEW 1. Word of God as Story: Genesis 2. Word of God as Emotions: Psalms 3. Let us eat it (commit it to heart) 4. Quizzes MEMORY VERSES [Psalm 1:1] Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; [Psalm 119:11] I have stored your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. [Romans 12:2a] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind... [Revelation 10:10] “And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter.” LESSON 1. The Drama of Creation. The Holy Bible is one unified drama, from Genesis to Revelation. Our class will perform the Holy Bible as a drama, in each class, starting with Genesis. a. Genesis 1:1-3 [GOD THE FATHER] 1 In the beginning God [THE FATHER] created the heavens and the earth. [GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT] 2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God [THE HOLY SPIRIT] was hovering over the face of the waters. [GOD THE WORD = THE SON] 3 Then God SAID [THE WORD], “Let there be light”; and there was light. [And the LIGHT is the MESSIAH, JESUS, one with the WORD, one with the SON. For details, see John 1:1ff.] 2. Feelings of Love. The Psalms are the emotions of God. We will commit them to our hearts and minds, starting with Psalm 1, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly...” Psalm 1:1 Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; Երանեալ է այր որ ի խորհուրդս ամպարշտաց ոչ գնաց ի ճանապարհի մեղաւորաց ոչ եկաց յաթոռս ժանտից ոչ նստաւ։ ምስጉን ነው በክፉዎች ምክር ያልሄደ፥ በኃጢአተኞችም መንገድ ያልቆመ፥ በዋዘኞችም ወንበር ያልተቀመጠ። 2. Transformation and Renewal. You feel empowered by your web browser with which you can look anything up? What is that? We are letting the precious Word of God float around in electronic boxes? Instead, let us make the Word *part of ourselves* by committing it to our minds and hearts. [Psalm 119:11] I have stored your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. [Romans 12:2a] Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind... Aside: Because you are “three stomachs,” you receive Christ three ways in the Holy Liturgy. What are they? What are your three stomachs? How do they work? Aside: About nutritious food, would you say, “I need not eat it. I can always just touch it to my tongue and then let it outside my system without digesting it and making it part of myself.”? Would you not rather have nourishment go inside yourself and become part of yourself? “And I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it. It was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it my stomach was made bitter.” [Revelation 10:10] 3. Quizzes. Because learning is promoted by recalling and rehearsing, we will have a short and edifying quiz at the beginning of each class. Your performance *as a class* on the quiz will earn your class a field trip. [Romans 12:2b] ... by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. HOMEWORK 1. Let us see the Word of God as an exciting drama and as a divine love poem. 2. Let us store the Word of God in our minds and souls. ---- END OF FILE ---- TEACHERS’ STUFF: 1. Plan schedule and sketch family tree. a. Drama: Ge 1-50, Ex 1-25, Nu 11-36, Jo, Ju, Ru, Es, 1 2 3 4 King, Ne, Ez b. Family Tree: Our Father’s Plan 2. Write system for earning points towards field trip, with incentive for kids to call each other and make sure they show up for the quiz, or to arrange with the teacher a make-up. Ref: https://www.wordproject.org/bibles/am/19/1.htm