The Gospel in Our Lives

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this module is to teach Seventh graders about the four Gospels in depth. Students will learn about the Evangelists, how and why the Gospels were written, as well as the importance of the Gospels as the Good News of salvation. Students will also learn about how the Gospels fulfilled the prophecies in the Old Testament and how the message of the Gospels can be applied to our lives. This week's lesson will focus on Gospel-centered living.

INTRODUCTION - 5 Minutes

The four Gospels not only contain details about the life of Jesus Christ as our Savior and the fulfillment of the Old Testament Prophecies, new promises and a new covenant, but they also are full of His teachings of how He called us to live. This lesson will highlight 7 key elements of Jesus' teachings.

Applying these elements in our daily lives will help us live a Gospel-centered life. Thus when any situation or temptation arises, we can reflect on the Gospel and Jesus' teachings. When we live a Gospel-centered life and apply the teachings of Jesus, we grow in our personal relationship with God.

HOLY SCRIPTURE - 5 Minutes

  • "Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma." Ephesians 5:1-2
  • "I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20

CONTENT (KEY POINTS) - 30 Minutes

In this section we will use parables and miracles from the Gospels to highlight 7 key teachings of Jesus. For each teaching, we will define the virtue, list the story, parable or miracle that exemplifies the teaching, and how it can be applied in our lives.

For each example below, explain the story to the students if they are not familiar with it, to ensure that they are able to make the connection between the teaching and the story. When discussing the application section for each teaching, have the students come up with their own scenarios. Suggested applications are given below.

  1. Repent
    1. What is repentance: Simply stated, repentance is reconciliation with God.
    2. Example from the Gospel: Parable of the Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11--32)
    3. Message: Our Lord calls us to repent from sin so that we can be reunited with Him. Also, He calls us to reconcile with others. Christ also taught us that it is never too late to repent.
    4. Application: If we commit a sin, such as lying or cheating on a test, we should firstly confess our sin, and do what we can to make it right, such as apologizing.
  2. Forgive
    1. What is forgiveness: Letting go of negative feelings/anger when someone wrongs us.
    2. Example from the Gospel: Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (Matthew 18:21-35)
    3. Message: Our Lord calls us to forgive others the way He forgives us. When the disciple Peter asked Him how often we should forgive those who sin against us, Christ responded "seventy times seven," meaning that our forgiveness should be unlimited.
    4. Application: If we get into a fight with a sibling or friends, we should forgive them and try to reconcile with them to remove any negative feelings.
  3. Give Thanks
    1. What is giving thanks: Being grateful for everything we have
    2. Example from the Gospel: Miracle of the 10 Lepers (Luke 17:11-19)
    3. Message: Our Lord calls us to always remember to give thanks for what we are given, and in every condition.
    4. Application: We should regularly thank our parents for all they do for us, even if things don't go our way, or if we feel that someone may have "more" than we do. We should also dedicate a portion of our prayers to simply thanking God for all of His blessings. Memorizing and praying the Prayer of Thanksgiving can help us do this regularly.
  4. Don't Judge
    1. What is not being judgmental: Not being preoccupied with others' mistakes and neglecting our own repentance. Not jumping to conclusions about others based on things they may or may not have done, rather than getting to know them.
    2. Example from the Gospel: The Samaritan Woman (John 4:4-26)
    3. Message: Our Lord teaches us that He is the only one who can judge us. We are all sinful and should focus on our own repentance and salvation rather than condemning others. (Not to be confused with discernment between what is right and wrong).
    4. Application: We should not spread rumors about others or gossip about things someone else has done. If we hear that someone has done something wrong we should pray for them rather than spreading or telling others about it.
  5. Serve Others
    1. What is serving: Putting others above ourselves, and going out of our way to do things for others.
    2. Example from the Gospel: Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37)
    3. Message: Our Lord calls us to help those who are in need, no matter who they are, and to do so joyfully rather than with grumbling.
    4. Application: We should look for opportunities to help others around us whether it's helping someone at school who is struggling with a class, or spending time with the elderly, etc. We can also give material goods such as a portion of our allowance or donating old clothes/toys.
  6. Be Obedient
    1. What is obedience: Following God's will even if it's different from our own. Also, respectfully listening to what those in authority ask us to do.
    2. Example from the Gospel: Miracle of the Great Catch of Fish (Luke 5:1-11)
    3. Message: Our Lord calls us to submit our life to Him and His will. We should follow what He asks us to do, even if we don't understand why or may rather do something else.
    4. Application: We must obey our parents, spiritual fathers, etc., and also follow the Commandments. We should obey and preserve the teachings of God and the Church, even if we may not fully understand why at first. By being obedient, God will bless us and give us the wisdom to see His work and blessings in our lives.
  7. Be Ready
    1. What does "be ready" mean: Living in such a way that we may always be prepared for eternal life.
    2. Example from the Gospel: Parable of the Ten Virgins (Matthew 25:1-13)
    3. Message: Our Lord calls us to always be ready because we never know the time or the hour when we will meet Him.
    4. Application: We should dedicate time daily to spend with God (e.g., praying, reading the Bible, taking Communion), and not push it off, since we never know what tomorrow will bring. We need to keep our personal relationship with God strong so that He may welcome us with open arms into His kingdom.

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 5 Minutes

Jesus used miracles and parables to give us examples and help us understand His teachings. "To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that 'Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.'" Luke 8:10

Applying the Gospel to our life means keeping God's Word in our hearts (Psalm 119:11) and obeying the Holy Spirit as He whispers God's ways and truths to us (John 14:26).

CONCLUSION - 5 Minutes

The Gospels are not just a collection of stories or historical events; but rather a way of living that leads us to eternity. We should live out the teachings of Christ so that we may be saved, and so that others can see Him through us. The Gospel provides us with solutions for every situation in life and gives us guidance on how to live our lives according to Jesus' teachings.

ACTIVITY - 10 Minutes

Using the attached worksheet ("My Gospel Standards"), have the students create their own poster by writing or drawing how they will apply each "Gospel Standard" to remind them of how they will live out the Gospel daily.

PARENTS CORNER/HOMEWORK

Encourage the students to use the SOAP method during their daily Bible reading to help them apply the Bible to their lives.

  • S -- Scripture. Write out Scriptures in a notebook.
  • O-- Observation. This step encourages you to interact with the Scriptures that you have written out in your notebook. During this step, ask yourself: What do I see, and what does it mean?
  • A -- Application. This step encourages you to make God's word personal in your life. What is God saying to me today? Do I need to make changes? Do I need to take action?
  • P -- Prayer. This step involves asking God to work in your life.

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 7 Week 4 Activity (New Testament) .pdf