Welcome to the Confirmation page!
At our last class the following assignment was given out to participants:
FAVOURITE BIBLE STORY ASSIGNMENT
PART 1 of this assignment is written, created on a PowerPoint type of software, or sketched/drawn by hand in a story-board format. Using one of these formats, please create a summary of your favourite story from the Bible, according to the following guidelines:
Your summary will consist of three paragraphs/parts:
1st paragraph/part
In the first paragraph/part, you will
- Include the correct biblical reference (i.e. Luke 15:11-32) of the story; take special care to note the name of the book, the chapter, and verses,
- Then, you will briefly write about/show what happens at the beginning of the story, in the middle of the story, and how the story ends; and,
- Please mention all the characters & their names that appear in the story.
2nd paragraph/part
In the second paragraph/part, you will write about/show why you like this story. Does it remind you of something that happened once in your life, or the life of a family member or friend? How does this story relate to your life? Please give a concrete, personal example. And describe what happened.
3rd paragraph/part
In the final paragraph/part, you will write about/show what this story tells you about God. Consider the following:
- What words would you use to describe what God is like, or who God is? Is Jesus loving, judging? Is God gentle or angry?
- What kinds of things does God do? Does Jesus forgive? Does God punish? Does God instruct someone to do something?
- From this bible story, what can you say about your relationship with God? Do you love God? Does God love you? Will God protect you? Can you trust God in all circumstances of life? Does God provide what you need in life?
You can choose a story from any one of the several we touched on in the Old Testament and New Testament. Please submit to me a first draft of your writing/PowerPoint/story-board summary no later than Tuesday, February 25, 2014. I’ll likely ask you to revise it with another draft following.
PART 2 of this assignment is oral. Once we’ve had a chance to work on your written piece/PowerPoint/story-board, we’ll be prepared to set a class date for presenting our assignments to one another. Eventually you will be prepared to present it to the class, parents and interested members of the church at a special class in the Spring. The exact date of this special class will be determined later.
“Faith comes from what is heard …” (Romans 10:17)
Example
My favourite story from the Bible is Jesus’ parable of the lost sheep. This story is found in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 15, verses 1-7 (Luke 15:1-7). Another version of the same story is found in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 18, verses 12-14 (Matthew 18:12-14). Jesus tells this story because many sinners came to listen to Jesus. And the Pharisees didn’t like that Jesus spend most of his time with people who did not have a good reputation, were not popular nor wealthy. So, Jesus tells the story of a shepherd who lost one of his one hundred sheep. The shepherd leaves the other ninety-nine in the wilderness to go after the one that is lost until he finds it. When he finds it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices. Jesus concludes the story by saying how God is more pleased with one sinner who was lost and is found and knows he or she is bad, then with ninety-nine people who are in the right crowd and don’t think they are ever wrong.
I can relate to this story. I remember once in grade school when I felt I was very unpopular. I didn’t play hockey. I didn’t have a girl-friend. During recess all the popular guys hung out with all the popular girls. I felt I didn’t belong. And that made me sad. Then the following week at church, the youth leader invited me to join the youth group. At first, I didn’t feel like going. But I’m glad I went. Because during the youth meeting, everyone there spoke to me and made me feel special. I had fun. I felt loved.
I learned from this bible story that God loves me and will never leave me. Even though in life I may feel lost and not part of the in-crowd, God makes me special. He created me. And even though I may make mistakes in life, Jesus will always look for me, find me, and help me get better.
Also, we are asking parents/guardians to sign a photo release form, so we can publish a visual witness of our learning within our communities, and to the world!
Our next class is scheduled for Tuesday, November 19, 2013 from 5-8pm. A pizza supper will be provided.
Please contact Pastor Martin (pastormartin@faithottawa.ca) if you have any questions. Check the website frequently for updates.
