teach me to worship-confession of faith-m

Children’s Worship Curriculum from

THIS MONTH We Will... CO

NFES

SION OF FAITH

WEEk FOur lESSONSing• IWillSingof

theMerciesoftheLord

Read• Acts13:14–39• Ecclesiastes12:1• John8:48–59• Genesis1:1,26–27

Memorize“IbelieveinGodtheFather,Almighty,Makerofheavenandearth,andinJesusChrist,hisonlySon,ourLord;whowasconceivedbytheHolySpirit,bornoftheVirginMary;sufferedunderPontiusPilate;wascrucified,deadandburied.Hedescendedintohell;thethirddayheroseagainfromthedead.Heascendedintoheaven,andsitsattherighthandofGodtheFatherAlmighty,fromthereheshallcometojudgethelivingandthedead.IbelieveintheHolySpirit;Ibelieveintheholycatholicchurch;thecommunionofsaints;theforgivenessofsins;theresurrectionofthebody;andthelifeeverlasting.Amen.”

Apostles’Creed

LearnWeek One—HisStory—Apostles’CreedWeek Two—InOurYouth—HeidelbergWeek Three—GodorMan?—NiceneCreedWeek Four—BacktotheBeginning—WestminsterConfession

Teach Me to Worship — Children’s Worship Curriculum | Copyright © 2015 PCA CDM

WEEK FOUR:ConfessionofFaith

FromthefirststatementoffaithinDeuteronomy6:4-5tomoreextensiveonesinColossians1:15-20and1Timothy3:16,God’speoplehavealwaysneededameanstoexplainandconfirmtheirfaith.TheWestminsterConfessionisnoexception.WrittenduringtheReformation,whileHenryVIIIwasmakinghisownchurch,menjoinedtogethertodecipherScriptureandcreateatextthatwouldestablishaframeworkforbelief.

Ourpastorsaretestedonthisframeworkandarerequiredtoadheretoit.TheConfessionsaresoimportantthatpastorsmustvoiceexceptionstoanysectionsandprovidereasonsforthoseexceptions.Thisisnosmallmatter.BesidesScripture,theConfessionsaretheonedocumentthatthePresbyterianChurchinAmericaleansonforidentification.

Forthatreason,wearelearningabouttheconfessionsoffaiththatguideourworship.Thisweek,it’sallaboutthefirstquestionoftheWestminsterConfession.OurchiefendistoglorifyGodandtoenjoyhimforever.I’mnotreallysurewewilleverfullyunderstandthatidea,butitcan’thurttostartthekidsoutlearningaboutitearlyinlife.WhatbettermeansoflivingthantoglorifyGodinallthattheydoandtoenjoyallthelove,graceandmercythathehasshownthem?

How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord,Is laid for your faith in His excellent Word!What more can He say than to you He hath said,You, who unto Jesus for refuge have fled?

(Verse from “How Firm a Foundation”)

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TO PrINT:• LargeMemoryVersetohold

up(1copy)*• PictureofWestminster

Abbey

TO GATHEr:• Hymnal/lyricsforsongs*

(Optional: guitar or music to sing along with)

• Basketforoffering*• The Big Picture Story Bible—

Book1(Canbesubstitutedwithanotherchildren’sstoryBibleifnecessary.)

• Blankpaper(1-2sheets/child)&crayons

OPTIONAl:• Kid’sActivitySheet(1copy/

child)• ElementsofWorshipIcons*

(Found in the introduction section.)

*These items will be needed every week.

LEADER’S ReviewSUPPLIES Needed

Back to the Beginning-Westminster Confession


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THE LessonCall to Worship–“OWorshiptheKing”Sing the first verse of “O Worship the King” that we learned in Unit 1. (1 minute)

O worship the King all glorious above,O gratefully sing his power and his love;Our shield and Defender, the Ancient of Days,Pavilioned in splendor, and girded with praise.

PraiseSing worship song with the children. (5 minutes)

• IWillSingoftheMerciesoftheLord

Tithes and OfferingsRecite the following prayer before passing around the offering basket. (2 minutes)

GivethankswithagratefulheartGivethankstotheHolyOneGivethanksbecauseHe’sgivenJesusChrist,HisSon.

(vs.1of“GiveThanksWithaGratefulHeart”)

Confession of FaithLead the children in confessing their faith by teaching the Apostles’ Creed. The bold section is the memory work for this week. (3 minutes)

“IbelieveinGodtheFather,Almighty,Makerofheavenandearth,andinJesusChrist,hisonlySon,ourLord;whowasconceivedbytheSpiritGhost,bornoftheVirginMary;sufferedunderPontiusPilate;wascrucified,deadandburied.Hedescendedintohell;thethirddayheroseagainfromthedead.Heascendedintoheaven,andsitsattherighthandofGodtheFatherAlmighty,fromthereheshallcometojudgethelivingandthedead.IbelieveintheHolySpirit;Ibelieveintheholycatholicchurch;the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. Amen.”


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Reading of the WordRead Scripture. (1-2 minutes)

Genesis1:1,26–271Inthebeginning,Godcreatedtheheavensandtheearth. (ESV)

26ThenGodsaid,“Letusmakemaninourimage,afterourlikeness.Andletthemhavedominionoverthefishoftheseaandoverthebirdsoftheheavensandoverthelivestockandoveralltheearthandovereverycreepingthingthatcreepsontheearth.”

27SoGodcreatedmaninhisownimage,intheimageofGodhecreatedhim;maleandfemalehecreatedthem.

PrayerHave a prayer of thanksgiving that God is the creator of the universe and that he created us in his image. (1-2 minutes)

Hearing the WordTeach the lesson to the children using the text below as a guide. (6-9 minutes for lesson; 10-15 minutes for activity)

Thismonthwearelearningaboutthingsthathelpusknowourfaith.LastweekitwasabouttheNicene Creed.Let’sseewhatyouremember.

Review Questions: • WhatwasitaboutJesusthatwetalkedabout?If Jesus was God or Man• WhatdidpeoplethinkaboutJesus’miracles?He was working for the enemy—with a

demon.• WasJesuspossessedbyademonordoingmagictricks?No!• NamesomeoftheMiraclesofJesus?Water into wine; healed crippled, paralyzed,

blind; calms the storm; feeds 5,000; get fish for fishermen.• Wheredoweseemiracleseverydaynow? In our hearts—making us more like Jesus.

Wehaveseenthatinworshiptherearecertainthingswegenerallydoeachweek.Wemightdoitindifferentwayseachweek,butwefollowcertainframeworksthatshowushowtoworship.ConfessingourfaiththroughcreedsandConfessionsofFaitharepartoftheworshipframework.About450yearsago,peoplewereconfusedabouthowtheyshouldworshipGod.Peoplewouldmakeuptheirownrulesandtrytomakeotherpeoplefollowthem,evenifsomeoftheruleswentagainstScripture.TherewerecertainmeninEnglandwhowantedtomakesurethesecrazyrulesweren’tbeingtaught.So,theycametogethertowritedownwhatthey,asChristians,believed.


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InthefamousWestminsterAbbey,(show picture)theymettogetheranddeterminedthatcertainthingshadtobeagreeduponinordertokeepthecrazythingsfrombeingsupported.ThesemenwrotetheWestminsterConfessionofFaith.Thisdocument,basedonScripture,hasbeenameasureforourchurchtoensureitisfollowingGod’sWord.

Scriptureishardtounderstandonourown.TheHolySpiritteachesus,butitisalsohelpfulforustostudytogethertoreallyunderstandmoreclearlywhatGodistellingus.TheWestminsterConfessionisagreatresourcetohelpusknowScripture.YoumighthaveheardofquestionscalledCatechism.TheywerewrittentohelpusallbetterlearnthetruthswrittenaboutintheWestminsterConfessionofFaith.WearegoingtolookatthefirstquestionoftheShorterCatechism.

Let’sprayfirst:“DearLord,thankyouforgivingusresourcestoknowyoumorebyunderstandingyourScriptures.Letusunderstandhowtoliveforyou.Amen.”

Haveyoueverwonderedwhatthepurposeofsomethingwas?Like,whydodogswagtheirtailtotellustheirhappy?Whycan’ttheyjusttaptheirpawsalot?Orwhydocatslickthemselvescleanandnotlikewater?Whydofishmakethatcrazyfishfaceinthewater?Iftheyhavegills,whydotheyneedtopuckerup?Therearemanythingsthatwedon’tknowwhyGodcreatedthemthatway.Onequestionmanypeopleaskis,“Whatisthepurposeofman?”Peoplethroughouthistoryhavebeenaskingwhywearehereonearthandwhatourgoalforlivingis.AndthewritersoftheWestminsterConfessionwerenoexception.

IntheWestminsterConfession’scatechism,thefirstquestionisaboutourpurpose.Itasksthis,“Whatisthechiefendofman?”The“chiefend”meansthemainpurposeorfocusofone’slife.So,it’sasking,whyarewehereonearth?WhyarewelivingandwhatdoesGodwantwithus?Iknowsomeofyoumightknowtheanswertothisquestion.Canyoutellittome?Theansweris:“ToglorifyGodandtoenjoyhimforever!”Whatdoyouthinkthatmeans?

Let’slookatthefirstbookoftheBibletofindananswer.WhatisthefirstbookoftheBible?Genesis. Doyouknowwhatthatwordmeans?It means, the Beginning.ThefirstwordsofGenesisare,“inthebeginning.”Genesismeansjustthat—thebeginning.Andinthatbook,wefindthepurposeofourliving.DoyouknowwhowrotethebookofGenesis?Canyouguess?Moses wrote the first five books in the Bible. HewrotethemwhileleadingtheIsraelitesoutofEgypt.AndeachbookwaswrittentotellthemthingsaboutGodastheytraveledfor40yearsinthedesert.

Duringtheearlydaysoftheirtravels,theIsraeliteswereveryupsetwithMoses.Theydidn’twanttobetravelingtothislandtheyhadneverseen.TheywantedtobebackinEgyptbecausethereweremelonsandcucumbersthere.Canyoubelieveit?Theywouldratherbeslavesandhavefoodthantobefreeandalittlehungry.Godwantedtoremindthepeoplethattherewasapurposefortheirstruggles,andthattheyweresupposedtobefollowingMoses.So,GodledMosestowritethebookofGenesis.Andthestorystartswithabeautiful,perfectpictureofcreation.

(Hearing the Word Continued)


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Howwouldyoudescribethisland?Let’sreadinGenesishowitisdescribed,“Inagarden,inEden,themanwhowasformedwasplacedthere.AndtheLordGodmadeallkindsoftreesgrowoutoftheground—treesthatwerepleasingtotheeyeandgoodforfood.Inthemiddleofthegardenwerethetreeoflifeandthetreeofknowledgeofgoodandevil.AriverwateringthegardenflowedfromEden…”and“…theLordGodformedofthegroundallthebeastofthefieldandallthebirdsoftheair.”

So,thisperfectlandwascoveredwithvegetation,animalsthatlivedtogetherandwaterthatflowedfromriversaroundthegarden.ItwassodifferentfromthelandofEgypttheIsraeliteshadjustleft.Thelandtheyhadbeeninwasoneofslavery,withtheonlygoodmemoriesofcucumbersandmelons.Moseswantedtomakesurethepeoplerealizedthattherewasmoretotheirlifethanbeingheldasslaves.HewantedthemtoseethattherewasmorethanonlyworkingforthePharaoh.Hewantedthemtoseethattheycould,also,walkwithGodinalandwheretheywerefreetoworshipGod.

GoingbacktotheGardenofEden,thisgardenofperfectionwastobethepursuitofthepeopleofGod.Godwantedthemtoliveinthelandwherehecoulddwellwiththem.HewantedthemtogotoaplacewheretheycouldenjoyandglorifyGod.Thefirstquestionofthecatechismis“Whatisthechiefendofman?”Itaskswhatweshouldbefocusingonwhilewearemakingchoicesasweliveeachday.TheansweristhatwearetoglorifyGodandenjoyhimforever.JustastheIsraeliteswerelivingforthepromiseland,wearelivingforthedaywhenJesuswillreturntoearthtoreign—andwewillfullyenjoyandglorifyGodforever!

But,howdoweglorifyGod?(They may answer here with the Child’s Catechism answer—By loving him and doing what he commands.) WhenwegowhereGodleadsus;whenwefollowhisdirections—likeobeyinghimandtrustingwhereheleadsus—that’sglorifyingGod.WhenwerecognizethatGodmakesallthingshappen,andthatnoneofitcomesfromourowndoing,weareglorifyingGod.Remembertheverse,“Whateveryoudo,whetheryoueatordrink,doitallforthegloryofGod”?ThisverseshowsthateverythingwedoistobringglorytoGod.

AndwhenwebringGlorytoGod,wefindgreatjoyinourpurpose.Whatisbetterthanworkingforthekingandbringinghimglory?Whenweworkforourownglory,wegettired,wornoutandwedon’treallyenjoyit.But,byglorifyingtheKingofKingswerevelinthelovehehasforus.JesustellsusthatallofScripturecanbesummedupintwocommandments.Canyourememberwhattheyare?ThefirstistolovetheLordyourGodwithallyourheart,allyourmind,andallyoursoul.That’sglorifyingGod!AndwhenweloveGodwithallofourbeingwecantrulyenjoythegoodnessthatweseefromGod!

ThesecondcommandisonlypossiblewhenweloveGodwithourwholeselves.LovingourneighborasweloveourselvesonlyhappenswhenweenjoyGod.BecauseinenjoyingGodweseehowgoodGodis,howlovingGodisandhowmuchhehasdoneforus.Andthenwecanloveothers…becauseweareloved.Andthatinitselfisthechiefendofman—toglorifyGodandenjoyhimforever!WeareabletodothisbecauseofwhatJesushasdone



forus.Hislife,deathonthecross,resurrectionfromthedeadassuresusthatHisSpiritnowliveswithinusandgivesusallthepowerweneedtoglorifyandenjoyhim.Let’sgivethanks!

ACTIVITY: Read and Draw CreationRead the first chapter of “The Big Picture Story Bible” about Creation. Use it to reinforce the idea that Eden was the place to be, the place where God wanted to be with his people.

While you read, give each child a large piece of white drawing paper. Mention each thing that they may draw as you read so they can create their own picture of Eden.

BenedictionRecite the following verses. (1 minute)

ThegraceoftheLordJesusChristbewithyourspirit.(Philippians4:23)

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© 2015 PCA Committee on Discipleship Ministries1700 North Brown Road, Suite 102

Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043Bookstore: 678.825.1100www.pcabookstore.com

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV), Copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2011.

All rights reserved. The lessons, graphics, and activities in this publication may be printed and used only by the church/individual that holds the purchasing license. It may not be used or reproduced in any other publications without prior permission of the publisher, PCA Committee on Discipleship Ministries, 1700 North Brown Road, Suite 102, Lawrenceville, Georgia 30043.

teach me to worship-confession of faith-m

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