The Eternal Kingdom of God
OBJECTIVE
As Orthodox Christians, we are blessed to have an enormous amount of resources explaining and describing death and the afterlife in the Orthodox perspective. This module aims to educate our 5th graders in this study (eschatology), presented in an age-appropriate manner. This week we will discuss the Kingdom of Heaven.
INTRODUCTION & HOOK - 10 Minutes
Considering raising a caterpillar/butterfly garden during this unit. Butterfly Garden
As students are walking into class and you are getting ready for class, play the spiritual song "Heaven is a Wonderful Place". (This is a very old song with many different recordings. Find one that your class will enjoy. It's a catchy easy jingle-type song that they will start singing on their own. Pick a different rendition every week of this unit.) Lyrics:"Heaven is a wonderful place, filled with glory and grace. I want to see my Savior's Face, Heaven is a wonderful place"
Hook
Split the class into 2 groups. Give each group a card with the name of a special destination that they need to pack for. Have items laid out on a table and give each group a suitcase or duffel bag.
- Team 1: Summer Vacation Spot like Hawaii
- Team 2: Winter Vacation Spot like local Ski Mountain
Things to put on table:
- Summer: sunblock, sunglasses, swim goggles, swimsuit, beach towel, beach toys, snorkel, sun hat....
- Winter: warm hat, glove/mittens, snow bib, wool socks, boots, snow goggles, scarf, coat, sweater....
Mix up all these items on the table and have the teams pick the right items for their destination and put them neatly in their bag.
Point of game: We are leaving for a trip and we have to prepare what we will take with us. Imagine what will happen if we don't prepare or take the wrong things. Have groups switch bags. Can you imagine taking a winter bag to the beach, or a summer bag to the snow? In the same way, we have to prepare for our ultimate destination, HEAVEN. In order to prepare, we will learn more about Heaven based on the teachings of the Bible and the Holy Fathers
HOLY SCRIPTURE - 10 Minutes
Memory Verse - "Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom." Luke 12:32
"In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:2-6
Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. ..." Revelation 21-22:6
CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 10 Minutes
Let's look at the parable of the 5 wise virgins and 5 foolish virgins.
Matthew 25:1-10, "Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept."
The foolish ones are those who do not follow Christ during their lives. The wise ones are the ones, like you children, who love Christ and follow His commandments. The Bible says they all slumbered and slept while they were waiting for the bridegroom to come. This represents how we Christians are waiting for Christ to come and are always ready. When they "fell asleep", this sleep refers to their earthly death, just like we all will die on earth. The wedding feast they are waiting for is the Kingdom of Heaven
There are many other parables that our Lord Jesus gave us that speaks about man's relationship with Heaven (Matthew 13):
- The sower
- The wheat and the tares
- The mustard seed
- The leaven hidden by the woman
- The hidden treasure in the field
- The net thrown out to sea
All of these parables teach us that Heaven is a very special place, worthy of our utmost attention and care. It's a place full of blessings and the love of God It is full of rest - Rev: 14:13
Remember (last week) we said that when we pass away, we go to Paradise. Paradise is a beautiful area where all of God's people are also waiting, just like everyone on earth is waiting. We are all waiting for Christ's Second Coming. Once Christ comes again to judge the world, we will all be resurrected and our souls will be re-joined to our new resurrected bodies. Heaven is the new creation.
What else do we know about Heaven? Heaven is our original home. Heaven is where we were created and where we will return. That's why we are called "sojourners" or travelers in this world (Liturgy). St. Paul says that we are ambassadors and our citizenship is in Heaven (define an ambassador and give examples of an ambassador's job). Not only that, but our Lord God has prepared for us a home in Heaven. John 14:2-3 "In my Father's House are many mansions....I go to prepare a place for you..."
We also know a lot about Heaven and Paradise from the Holy Saints who have been able to give us a glimpse or account of what Heaven is like.
- St. Stephen the Archdeacon and First Martyr Acts 7:54-56 "When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. 55 But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, 56 and said, "Look I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God""
- St. Perpetua the Martyr Story of St. Perpetua
- Saying of the Desert Fathers recounts many who have been on their deathbed and have seen visions of Heaven
- Tamav Erenie - Translation from Arabic
DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes
- Why did our Lord Jesus use parables to explain the Kingdom of Heaven?
- What do you think the Kingdom of Heaven is like?
- What is the difference between Paradise and the Kingdom of Heaven?
- Where is our "citizenship" as Christians?
- What will Heaven look like?
LIFE APPLICATION - 10 Minutes
As citizens of Heaven, we are to be ambassadors to this world. How do we act as Ambassadors of Heaven on a daily basis?
ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes
- Write your own parable about Heaven. (This can be as simplistic as writing "Heaven is like a surprise party with all of your family and best friends.) Draw a picture of your parable.
- Examine the Icon of Christ's Judgement and evaluate together. Attach article/video
- Display gems/precious stones mentioned in the Revelation reading. Pictures attached.