Catholic Religious Education - God's Plan for Salvation

One more week before a two-week break. One more week before a two-week break. I have to tell myself this to get through this last week before Thanksgiving break. The 7th Graders are starting to try my patience, and my aide basically told me she screwed up assisting with 7th Grade, and she wishes she would have taken a younger grade. She's only a Junior or Senior in High School, so this was a "Duh" moment, but I bit my tongue, and just smiled. This week we're going to be learning about God's plan for salvation, which is something that you learn heavily, when you are young, in Protestant churches, but not so much in Catholic churches.

• Preparation for the Lesson
• Bring the Annunciation Icon 
• Write the following questions on the board:
• Who or what helps me in difficult times?
• What does Salvation mean to you?
• Then have the students read page 73 and do the activity.
• Introduction
• Good morning. Today we are going to talk about The Promise of Salvation. Before we discuss what is written on the the board, I would like you to turn to page 75 and begin with the opening prayer.
• I need two Readers and the rest of you will respond to All.
• Okay! While waiting for class to start, I had y’all answer the questions on the board. 
• So let’s talk about it. Who or what helps you in difficult times?
• What does Salvation mean to you?
• Chapter 7
• Now I would like you to turn into your books to page 78 and we will begin reading.
• We have three big terms here: Free Will, Sin, and Original Sin.
• What is Free Will?
• Why do we have it as opposed to God just not letting us choose and us doing everything right?
• What is Sin?
• What are the two types of sin? Mortal and Venial
• What is it and who is responsible for us being born in Original Sin?
• What removes Original Sin?
• Let’s continue reading on page 79.
• Have them do the activity:
• Exodus = Food and Drink
• Canaan = Sent them judges and rulers
• King = Gave them Saul, David, and Solomon
• Turn away = Gave them Prophets
• We can see time and time again that the people kept complaining, turning away from God, and then when things got tough running back to God.
• And God kept listening to them, forgiving them, and giving them help.
• Now let’s read page 80.
• As we talked about before, the Jewish people were expecting a Messiah, which God promised them. And with over 300 references in the Old Testament to the coming Messiah
• Some expected a Warrior to overthrow Rome.
• Some expected a Politician.
• Others were looking for a King to rule like David.
• Now let’s get back to the text on page 81.
• Let’s start with the Immaculate Conception.
• What does it mean?
• What day do we celebrate that in the Church?
• This feast day is a Holy Day of Obligation.
• What does that mean?
• Then, we have the term angel.
• What is an angel?
• Who was the angel who told Mary she was going to give birth to the Messiah?
• What is the name of the feast day where we celebrate Gabriel telling Mary she was going to give birth to the Messiah?
• The Annunciation
• Mary was scared and overjoyed at this news. She said the prayer in the green box called The Magnificat.
• I want someone to read this aloud for us, starting with, “My soul proclaims…”
• Practical Application
• What are ways you can show God your thanks for sending Jesus, the Messiah?
• Closing Activity
• Now I want y’all to each write a prayer telling God that you accept the salvation that he offers you.
• You do not have to read it aloud, but I want you to spend the rest of the class working on it.
• When you are done, you can drop it on our prayer box for God’s eyes only.