Spiritual Disciplines (4th- 5th Grade Class, February)

Week 1

The Discipline of Study 

Season of the Church Year: Common Time/ Great Green Growing Season (green)

Story in Scripture:

This month, students will be focusing on Spiritual Disciplines. Most people (including Richard Foster) identify these disciplines as: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance, and Celebration. For the month of February, we will be focusing on Study, Service, and Worship. As we entered into our discussion about Study, we began by considering the relationship between being a DISICPLE and practicing DISCIPLINE in our lives. Because students of this age often attach a negative connotation to studying (studying for tests, quizzes, projects), a good bit of our talk today centered around how study of God’s word and God’s story is different. We also thought about ways that we can improve our concentration during our time of study and what things we should think about each time. The strategies that we talked about are: 1) Without distraction…. 2) Until we have understanding…. 3) With commitment to application. While reading the Bible, we can think about these questions, no matter the book, verse, or testament:

1) What is Being Said? 
Asking this question assumes habit and lets you take focus. Ask yourself what the author of the Scripture you are reading must have meant when they first wrote it. This might require reading some of the Scriptures around it. Who are they writing to? What events happened recently in that person’s life? What do you think they wanted the original listener/reader to hear?                                                                                                                                  2) What Does it Mean?
 Asking this question seeks insight and application. Instead of reflecting on something concrete (Jesus heals a paralyzed person) you realize that the fact that Jesus healed a paralyzed person means something (Jesus can heal you).                                                                                                                                                                       3) What Should Be Done Because of it? 
Asking this question causes you to reflect and leads to change. If the Scripture says that Jesus can heal a paralyzed person, and that means that he can heal you, what should be done because of that? Perhaps in this example, the realization is that you should always trust Jesus.    

I encourage you to work with your child on finding time and space to study God’s word regularly. Perhaps  more importantly, demonstrate your own dedication to the Discipline of Study.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

*I wonder why it’s important to study? Why is it important to study the Bible?  

*I wonder what things might help me to spend time studying without getting distracted?  

*I wonder how I can remember the things that I learn from the Bible?

Prayer:

“Lord, be with me as I learn and study. Help me as I learn at school… at home… about math, science, social studies, athletics… scripture and prayer. Guide me toward better understanding and greater wisdom. I want to not only become smarter, but more wise. Thank you for your word. I am so grateful that I have the opportunity to read it whenever I want. Amen.”

Week 2

Discipline of Service 

Season of the Church Year: Common Time/ Great Green Growing Season (green)

Story in Scripture: Matthew 20:28

This month, students will be focusing on Spiritual Disciplines. Most people (including Richard Foster) identify these disciplines as: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance, and Celebration. For the month of February, we will be focusing on Study, Service, and Worship. As we reviewed our discussion about Study and moved on to learn about Service, we began by considering how we feel when we are served. We wondered, how does it make us feel? … what does it tell us about the person who is serving us? …how do we honor and show appreciation to those who serve us? We also read several Bible verses that helped us to understand the different ways that God, Jesus, and the followers of Jesus served others. After brainstorming and discussing ways that we can each serve others in our daily lives, we completed a service project for men and women who benefit from the services of the United Way. Students created care packages with a variety of necessities.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

*I wonder why do we think it is hard to get into the habit of serving people?
                                                                         *I wonder how much we really serve other people?
                                                                                                              *I wonder if there are some ways we can serve people…even today?

Prayer:

“Father, thank you for the ways that you serve us through the love and care of our parents, friends, teachers, and coaches. Help me to have a heart of service and compassion for others in my life- even strangers. I want to strive to serve like Jesus did. Amen.”

Week 3 

The Discipline of Worship 

Season of the Church Year: Lent (purple)

Story in Scripture: Exodus 

This month, students will be focusing on Spiritual Disciplines. Most people (including Richard Foster) identify these disciplines as: Meditation, Prayer, Fasting, Study, Simplicity, Solitude, Submission, Service, Confession, Worship, Guidance, and Celebration. For the month of February, we will be focusing on Study, Service, and Worship. As we entered into our discussion about Worship today, we began talked at length about when and how various Old and New Testament people worshipped God. It was amazing to consider how they worshipped in good times and when things were going badly. A good bit of our discussion today also centered around the different ways that people worship. All too often, we are trapped in the mindset that “worship” means singing corporately in a sanctuary. Although this is how many Christians worship, the students will spend time thinking about other ways that they are able to glorify, appreciate, and spend time with God. Their teacher shared that worship manifests in a few easily describable ways. Worship can be (1) An Expression of Relationship, (2) An Expression of Appreciation, (3) An Expression of Awe, and the feeling of (4) Being Blown Away by God. This may come in the form of a hike to a mountain summit, as the creation of a piece of art work, singing together, or even as time spent memorizing scripture. The lesson today concluded with some independent thought about each student’s personal worship “style.” I encourage you to talk further with your child about how they feel they best worship God.

Guiding Questions for Discussion:

*How often do you worship?                                                                                                                      *Why do you feel we don’t have this type of experience more often? Is it God’s fault or ours?
                                                                                                                        *What is your attitude when you are worshipping?                                                                                              *How Do You Worship?

 Obviously, there’s no “right” way to worship. There are lots of ways to express relationship, appreciation, and awe. Most of you when you think of worship you think of music, but that’s such a small piece.

Prayer:

“Dear God, I want to worship you. Help me to make time to spend expressing our relationship, how much I appreciate you, and how much you lead me to feel awe. Be with me in all the parts of my day so that I may worship you from sunrise to sundown. Amen.”

Great Books about Peer Pressure

      The topic of Peer Pressure is a tricky one to broach with children of any age, particularly those that are very young. Such an abstract concept is difficult to explain, but even the youngest children are tempted by the pressures of “fitting in” or going along with the crowd. Teaching children appropriate strategies for avoiding the pitfalls of negative Peer Pressure is so important and can be made easier to receive when you have a book to complement and accompany your conversation. Here are a few that I would recommend, divided up by general age groups (although the younger books are still appropriate for older children, especially when they can read them independently).

Toddlers and Young Preschoolers: The Berenstein Bears and the In Crowd, by S. Berenstein

Older Preschool & Lower Elementary: My Best Frenemy, by J. Bowe  

Upper Elementary: Wringer, by J. Spinelli

I simple search online will also yield many more fantastic titles. Also, feel free to check out the Trinity Kids Lending Library (in the Gathering Room) for more books about helping children and young adults deal with tough subjects, like bullying, divorce, and death.

Children & Baptism

     The season of Lent brings with it an atmosphere of sacrifice, refinement, and preparation. As we try to realize that depth of love that led to Christ’s crucifixion, we may draw near to the disciplines of study & meditation. As we seek to refine ourselves and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ, perhaps we aspire to spend more time in fasting and silence. During the weeks of Lent, children will be invited to spend time in preparation as well. Through a series of focused lessons and discussions, children who are interested will have the opportunity to ready themselves for Baptism. Children will explore the importance of Scripture & the Ten Commandments, will be guided through the Lord’s Prayer, and will learn more about Prayer. This preparation class is called “Catechism.” Catechesis is simply “an education in the faith of children, young people and adults which includes especially the teaching of Christian doctrine imparted, generally speaking, in an organic and systematic way, with a view to initiating the hearers into the fullness of Christian life” (from Catechism of the Catholic Church).

     If your child has expressed interest in Baptism, I encourage you to talk frankly and honestly with them and pray fervently for the Lord’s guidance about whether or not to join the Catechism class. The Apostle Peter wrote, “and this water symbolizes baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body but the pledge of a good conscience toward God. It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 3:21).  

     At Trinity, children will be meeting during the 11:30 service with a Trinity Kids teacher in lieu of their regular class time. Please sign in as usual, letting the Administrator know that your child will be attending the Catechism class. The class will begin on March 3^rd and will continue until March 24^th. Baptisms will take place through immersion on the first Sunday after Easter during the 11:30 service. It is expected that catechumens will attend all four classes.