Faith Module

OBJECTIVE

In this module we will be using the Creed to highlight important faith concepts. One of the main authors of the Creed was Saint Athanasius, the twentieth Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It was written to specifically address any questions about our faith.

In the first lesson, we will discuss the titles of God the Trinity as mentioned in the Creed. We will be defining the Father as the Creator, the Son as the Logos, and the Holy Spirit as the Life-Giver. The children will begin to understand the attributes of the Holy Trinity as Three in One God.

The fourth graders will learn about God as our Saviour and the concept of Salvation. Using the section of the Creed that relates the story of Salvation, they will learn how our Lord Jesus Christ redeemed us.

They will also focus on Christ's Incarnation; learning why God came as Man, His Divinity and Humanity, and the role of our Mother, the Virgin Mary.

Finally, the fourth graders will learn the place of the Holy Scriptures in the Orthodox Church and home. They will learn what the Divine Inspiration of the Bible means and the Story of the Septuagint (LXX) and the Deuterocanonical Books.

TOPICS BY WEEK

Please read through all of the lessons in this module in preparation for this lesson.

• Week 1: Trinity in the Creed
• Week 2: Salvation
• Week 3: Incarnation
• Week 4: "According to the Scriptures"
• Capstone Activity

MILESTONES

Scripture

The Orthodox Creed is in fact a mirror of the Holy Scriptures. The Creed explains the Holy Scriptures and helps us worship in spirit and truth. The first step in developing a lifelong habit of spiritual reading is developing a habit of reading the Holy Scriptures. St. John Chrysostom, one of the great early Church Fathers, teaches us that demons fear to enter a room where the Holy Scriptures are kept, because the Holy Scriptures are the highest wisdom ever written, the true revelation of God in the Person of Jesus Christ.

Spiritual

With the grace of the Holy Spirit, the words of the Bible and the Creed will reveal to our souls their meaning if--and only if--we apply ourselves to this endeavor daily without growing lazy. With each step, the Word of God will enlighten our soul. We will see the benefits immediately and they will continue to grow the rest of our lives.

Social

The Church promotes the peace, love and unity taught by our Lord Jesus Christ. She teaches her children to be holy, constructive, and peaceful members of society; and to have good relations with all of its members, regardless of race, color or creed, thus enabling us to be worthy ambassadors of Jesus Christ.

Rituals

The term "Orthodox" refers to the preservation of the "Original Faith" by the Copts who, throughout the ages, defended the Creed against the numerous attacks aimed at it. As the fourth graders learn their faith through the Creed, they too will join the ranks of saints who have worshiped our Lord through it's holy words.