12/21/2016 - Deeper Dive - Scripture and Tradition

Bible Reading: 2 Timothy 3:14-17

Catechism Reading: Paragraph #105 - 108

Opening Prayer:

Review, Link & Introduce:
Last week we discussed the bible and the benefits of developing a daily habit of reading the bible.  Tonight we are going to continue to learn more about the origin of the bible (Sacred Scripture) and how it relates to Sacred Tradition.
How many of you met the challenge to read the first two chapters of Matthew this past week?

Class Stewardship Project:

  • Organize and Plan Projects

Lesson:
  • Catholic Answers - 20 Answers - Scripture and Tradition
    • Introduction 
    • #3 - How do we know which books make up the Old Testament and the New Testament
    • #4 - What exactly is Sacred Tradition?
    • #8 - Can Sacred Tradition contradict the Bible?
  • Bible Game 
    • Learn to place books correctly into the Old and New Testaments. 
Action Items:
  • Bible Challenge: Read Chapters 3, 4, 5 & 6 over the next two weeks to keep up with the challenge.  


Closing Song: Baby Boy by for King & Country

Closing Prayer:

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Bonus Links:
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12/14/2016 - DP - Session 5 - The Bible


Bible Reading: Luke 24:44-47

Catechism Reading: Paragraphs 66 & 67 

Opening Prayer:

Review, Link & Introduce: 

Last week we learned the benefit of making prayer a daily habit that will help us discover God's will for our lives, and that we cannot ever truly be happy outside of God's will.

This week we will learn about another habit that is a practical and powerful source of inspiration and direction in our lives that will help you become the best version of yourself and fulfill the purpose God created you for.

Decision PointSession 5 - The Bible  
                                          (Student Workbook Link)

Decision Point Opening Prayer:
 





Decision Point Closing Prayer

Action Items

  • Re-watch the videos from session 5
  • Accept the challenge to read two chapters from Matthew every week for the next 14 weeks to read the full book of Matthew before your confirmation.
Closing Song: This Baby by Steven Curtis Chapman

Closing Prayer

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12/7/2016 - DP - Session 4 - The Prayer Process

Bible Reading: Mark 1:35

Catechism Reading: Paragraph #2744 

Review, Link & Introduce: 

In the last few weeks we have discussed decision making (how important it is and ways to make better decisions).  I have talked to you about how the use of drugs leads to a life of slavery where every decision you make is geared around the next opportunity to use the drug.  We have also learned that all of our sins lead us to slavery and away from the freedom that God wants for us.  Fortunately, through Jesus's life, death and resurrection we can be reconciled and forgiven by God if we are willing to make the biggest decision of our life to follow Jesus. 

This week we will learn what the four most important questions are that we all must answer and how to use the best tool God has given us to answer those questions.  The questions are: Who are you? What are you here for? What matters Most? and What matters Least?  The tool we will learn to use better is: Prayer.

The key to using any good tool is to START using it and then PERSEVERE through the struggles of learning to use the tool and the challenges to turning its use into a habit.

Decision PointSession 4 - The Prayer Process   
                                          (Student Workbook Link)

Decision Point Opening Prayer:







Decision Point Closing Prayer

Other Discussion Items
  • Service Hours
    • What did you do this week to help someone else?
Open Q&A

Action Items
  • Did you load the Decision Point App on your Phone or iPod Touch?
    • Show how to download the audio portion of the "4.4 - The Best Way to Learn" video to a mobile device so you can pray with this audio any time and any place.
  • Re-watch the videos from session 4
  • Accept the challenge to set aside a time and place to pray everyday for the next 30 days.
    • Use the "4.4 - The Best Way to Learn" video to guide you through that prayer time.
  • To Pray or not to Pray...that is the Decision this week that will help you answer the questions below:
    • Who are you? 
    • What are you here for? 
    • What matters Most? 
    • What matters Least?
Announcements
  • Need your sponsor names.


Class Closing Prayer

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11/30/2016 - Prayer - Parent Session

Bible Reading: Mark 1:35

Catechism Reading: Paragraph #2744 

Introduction: 

As we just read in the Catechism, prayer is a necessity.  It is what keeps us close to God when we need Him the most like when there is suffering in our life.  I would like to share part of a video with you where Collin Raye mentions the suffering of his granddaughter.


In the Bonus Video below you can learn the source of Collin's strong foundation in his faith that allowed him to maintain his faith in God and write the following song about his granddaughter.


In this parent session I want to highlight the Decision Point session we will be covering next week with your kids. As I mentioned in the first parent session, as parents you are the primary teachers and I want to use the videos from this session to equip you to help your children build a strong prayer life. We will learn how we benefit from prayer by helping us better answer the following questions: Who are you? What are you here for? What matters Most? and What matters Least?  It is knowing the answers to these questions that will prepare us, as it did Collin, for whatever comes our way in life.

Decision PointSession 4 - The Prayer Process   
                                          (Student Workbook Link)

Video: Introduction - Silence (3:46)

Video: 4.1 - Why Pray?  (4:24)

Video: 4.2 - The Big Question  (5:46)

Video: 4.3 - The Prayer Process  (5:16)

Video: 4.4 - The Best Way to Learn  (10:22)

Video: 4.5 - Decision Point  (3:03)

Other Class Updates
  • Class Service Project Update
  • Sponsor Names
Open Q&A

Closing Song: Collin Raye - I Get What I Need  (3:23)

Closing Prayer

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Bonus Links
  • Video: The Journey Home - 6-11-12 - Collin Raye
    • This is a good interview where Collin shares his faith background. I like this interview because you will see the strong foundation of his faith that allowed him to persevere through the health problems of family members around him including his granddaughter who passed away in 2010.
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10/23/2016 - No Class

Enjoy the time spent with friends and family over this Thanksgiving Holiday!

Surprise a friend or family member...do something for them they would not expect you to do!

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11/9/2016 - Deeper Dive - Faith & Science and Atheism

Bible Reading: Matthew 25:31-46

Catechism Reading: Paragraph #2443

Opening Prayer:

Review, Link & Introduce:
Last week we discussed many reasons why we can trust that God exists and Jesus came to earth as fully divine and fully human. With that faith in God we must follow God's commandments.  Tonight, by planning your class stewardship projects you are acting upon God's calling for each of you to perform works of mercy.

Class Stewardship Project:
  • Organize and Plan Projects

Lesson:
  • Catholic Answers - 20 Answers - Faith & Science
    • #9 - Hold on a minute. Hasn't science shown that something can indeed come from nothing...
    • #10 - How can you trust the Bible when the book of Genesis contradicts the theory of evolution by saying the world was created in six twenty-four hour days 6,000 years ago?
    • #14 - Why is the Church opposed to stem cell research that could provide medical breakthroughs for millions of people?
  • Catholic Answers - 20 Answers - Atheism
    • #5 - Religious believers don't care about people on earth because they are so focused on heaven.
    • #12 - How can you believe in an all-powerful and all-loving God in the face of so much evil in the world.


Closing Song: If We Are the Body by Casting Crown

Closing Prayer:

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Bonus Links:

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10/26/2016 - Deeper Dive - God and The Real Jesus

Bible Reading: Genesis 1:1

Catechism Reading: Paragraph #31

Review, Link & Introduce:
Last week we took a look at the role Jesus should play in our lives and how Jesus and his teachings are the answers to the problems we face in our lives and in the world. Unfortunately there are people around you who at various times in your life will try to convince you God and Jesus do not exist.  Even worse is the fact that some of these people will attack your faith when you are in college and away from family and friends. So, in tonight's class we will learn several reasons that will allow us to attain certainty about the truth of the existence of God and the real Jesus.

Lesson:
  • Catholic Answers - 20 Answers - God
    • #7 - Does the universe provide evidence that God exists?
    • #8 - Does the Big Bang provide evidence for the existence of God?
    • #10 - Does evolution disprove the existence of God?
  • Catholic Answers - 20 Answers - The Real Jesus
    • #4 - Can we trust the Gospel accounts of Jesus' life? I heard they were written decades or even centuries later by anonymous authors.
    • #12 - I heard that Jesus was married and that the Church suppressed other Gospels that depict him as just an ordinary man and not the Son of God.  Is this True?
    • #20 - What should I believe about Jesus?

Class Stewardship Project:
  • Present project ideas
  • Discuss projects in small groups
  • Select project as a class
  • Preliminary Planning

Closing Song: Strangely Dim by Francesca Battistelli

Closing Prayer:

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Bonus Links:
  • The Existence of God
    • This is a post on Gary's Blog that contains a link to a very good 60-minute podcast from Catholic Answers Live.  
  • The Evidence for Jesus
    • This is a very good 60-minute podcast from Al Kresta. Al hosts a radio show called "Kresta in the Afternoon". This radio program is one of two programs Gary regularly listens to via their podcast.
  • Jesus: Sent by God? YES!
    • This is another post on Gary's Blog.  It contains links to a few of Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen's recordings from his very popular "Life is Worth Living" TV show from the 50's and early 60's. If you have never heard Archbishop Sheen speak, you should checkout these recordings.

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10/19/2016 - DP - Session 3 - The Jesus Question

Bible Reading: Matthew 9:9

Catechism Reading: Paragraph #2232

Review, Link & Introduce: 

In the first class this year we talked about how you have all matured physically and mentally.  You are not the same person you were when you were five.  You expect to be treated differently and the people closest to you expect more from you. One thing that is expected of you is to start making a few more decisions on your own. This is why the first two weeks were focused on the importance of the decisions you make and some "Stinking Thinking" that will lead you to decisions that do not help you become the best version of yourself. More and more of the decisions you make will impact who you become as you move through high school and into college.

You are also expected to mature spiritually as well throughout your lifetime. Confirmation is a major milestone on your Christian spiritual growth. To reach that milestone you need to be prepared to answer "YES" in a bigger way than you ever have to the biggest question you will ever be asked to make. "Will you follow Jesus by making him a daily part of your life and doing what He expects of you? Tonight's session will help you see who Jesus is, why following Jesus gives you the best answers to problems that will help you become the best version of yourself, and how the grace you receive from God through Jesus allows you to return to God through reconciliation when you struggle to follow Jesus by not making the best decisions for your life.

Decision Point - Session 3 - The Jesus Question   
                                           (Student Workbook Link)

Decision Point Opening Prayer:







Decision Point Closing Prayer

Other Discussion Items
  • Stewardship
    • What did you do this week to help someone else?
Open Q&A

Action Items
  • Did you load the Decision Point App on your Phone or iPod Touch?
  • Re-watch the videos from session 3
  • Consider your relationship with Jesus this week...
    • Are you allowing Jesus to be part of your life by choosing to follow him and making him part of your life outside CCD class and Mass?
    • Are you thinking about what Jesus wants for you in the simple decisions you make every day? 
    • Should I spend another 15 minutes texting friends rather than reading a book or the Bible that will help me be a better ME?
    • Should I spend another 15 minutes watching TV or playing video games rather than doing something that will help Mom/Dad, other relative, or a neighbor?

Class Closing Prayer

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Bonus Videos:
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10/12/2016 - Stewardship/Service - Parent Session



Bible Reading: John 13:34-35
 

Catechism Reading: Paragraph 2447
 

Opening Song: My Own Little World by Matthew West
  • How often do we miss opportunities to help others because we are so focused on ourselves?
  • How often do we miss opportunities to be Jesus for someone around us?
Opening Prayer

Stewardship / Service
  • Introduction
  • Expectations
  • Class Project Ideas
Other Items
  • Feedback on the "Rediscover Jesus" Book
  • Feedback on the Decision Point App & Website
  • Parent Helpers
  • SLAM Activities 
Closing Song: Do Something by Matthew West

Closing Prayer

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10/5/2016 - Stewardship/Service - Student Session

Opening Story

  • "Are You Jesus", from Matthew Kelly's "Rediscover Jesus" book.



Bible Reading: John 13: 34-35

Catechism Reading: Paragraph2447

Opening Song: My Own LittleWorld by Matthew West

  • How often do we miss opportunities to help others because we are so focused on ourselves?

  • How often do we miss opportunities to be Jesus (like in our opening story) for someone around us?


Opening Prayer

Lesson

  • Works of Mercy

    • Spiritual Works of Mercy


    • Corporal Works of Mercy

    • Stewardship

      • Stewardship is us reflecting God's love for us to those around us so they can come to see and know God through us. 


    • Who can we serve through our stewardship?

      • Those we are in contact with in our everyday activities

      • Family

        • Small Group Exercise

          • Start to fill in Works of Mercy worksheet with ideas for daily contacts and family members.

      • Community - Church, School, City

        • Small Group Exercise

          • Add ideas to the Works of Mercy worksheet for community

      • Country

      • World



        • Introduce Catholic Relief Service (CRS)


    • Turn Words and Ideas into Actions



      • Class Project

        • Small Group Exercise

          • Brain Storm Ideas for class projects

        • Each group presents favorite

      • Family Project

        • Small Group Exercise

          • Brain Storm Ideas for family projects

    • Stewardship/Service expectations for confirmation candidates

      • Participate in planning and execution of a class project

      • Participate in planning and execution of a family project

      • Learn to be more open to stewardship/service opportunities by regularly stepping up to help people and organizations.

      • Write up two reflections using the form provided and give to Mrs. Metzger or Mr. Lauderbaugh.

      • Present one of your reflections to the class.

      • Just for Fun (optional) with your parents approval:

        • Search Twitter for: #mercyinmotion to read and hear about how others put "Mercy into Motion".


        • You and/or your parents can tweet about how you and your family put "Mercy in Motion" using #mercyinmotion and #mphmshelby

          • When you tweet to not use a person’s names. Use "a friend", "a family member", etc in place of names.

        • Search twitter for: #mphmshelby to read about others in your CCD class putting "Mercy into Motion".




Closing Song: We are Called

Closing Prayer

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