THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS: READING THE NEW TESTAMENT

 

Greetings, children. Have you ever received really exciting news? You will know how happy you are when this happens. Now I have even more happiness for you - the New Testament is the best news the world has ever received - because it tells us about JESUS!

What is the New Testament? 

The New Testament is the second part of the Bible. It tells us about the life of Jesus, His teachings, His death and resurrection, and the beginning of the church. The New Testament has four main parts - the gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the letters (also known as epistles) and the Book of Revelation.

• The gospels – stories about Jesus’ life (written by Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke and John)
• Acts of the apostles – what Jesus' friends did after He went to heaven
• Letters (epistles) – letters written by apostles like Paul to help Christians grow
• The book of revelation - a vision of heaven and Jesus' final victory.

Who is Jesus?

• Jesus is the Son of God, Who came to earth to save us from our sins and to open the way to Heaven. Jesus also came to show us how to love, and to be really good people
• Jesus was born in Bethlehem
• While Jesus was here on earth, He performed wonderful miracles and taught us to pray
• Jesus died on the cross to save us from our sins. But we don't need to be sad - Jesus rose again, and He's alive in Heaven! He also is here with us on earth, though we can't always see Him
• We will also rise again at the Resurrection, and we will live forever with God and Jesus in heaven and be very happy. All we need to do is to follow the Word of God and try to be good people
• Jesus fights the devil, who is a very naughty fallen angel. Jesus wants us to follow God's way and only do good and holy things. Jesus does not want us to do bad things like the devil does.

Why is the New Testament so important?

The New Testament shows us how much God loves YOU. The New Testament teaches us how to live, pray, forgive, and be part of God's family—the church! The New Testament teaches us about the seven sacraments which Jesus Christ instituted, to help us to reach heaven. The sacraments are baptism, confession, holy Communion, confirmation, sacrament of the sick, marriage and the priesthood; When we receive the sacraments, we are living out the New Testament today!

We can learn from the New Testament by:

• Reading the four gospels (start with a few verses a day)
• Learn memory verses (such as John 3:16 and Luke 10:27)
• Ask questions and pray with Scripture.

Jesus wants to talk to us through the New Testament. When we read, think of and pray about the New Testament, Jesus reaches out to us and helps us to understand how to become holy in our personal state of life.

The New Testament tells the story of Jesus the Son of God, and teaches us how to follow Him

• Think of one thing you have learned or want to remember about Jesus.

Dear children, let us pray: 

“Thank you, Jesus, for coming to save us and for the gift of the New Testament. Help us to follow You and love others as You do. Amen.”

Image inspiration ChatGPT and CN Whittle

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY PLAN: GOD'S COVENANT STORY - AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT

Here’s a classroom activity plan for teaching a catechism class about the Old Testament. This plan is designed for a 60-minute class and can be adjusted based on student age and time available.

Theme: 

GOD'S COVENANT STORY - AN INTRODUCTION TO THE OLD TESTAMENT 

Time Required: 60 minutes

Learning objectives

By the end of this session, children should be able to:

• Understand what the Old Testament is and why it is important
• Recognize the major sections: law (Torah), history, wisdom and prophets
• Identify key figures and events (such as Adam, Eve, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Moses, Esther, David and Deborah)
• Learn how the Old Testament points to God's covenant with us, and Jesus the promised Messiah.

Materials Needed

• Bibles or printed handouts of key passages
• Whiteboard/markers or chalkboard
• Timeline of Old Testament events (poster or printout)
• “Old Testament figures” flashcards or cut-outs
• Worksheet: “Old Testament exploration”
• Colouring or drawing supplies (optional).

Activity Breakdown

1. Opening prayer & introduction (5 min)

• Begin with a short prayer inviting the Holy Spirit to guide the class
• Ask: “What do you know about the Old Testament?” Gather a few responses.

2. Story of the Old Testament (10 min)

Mini-lecture + visual aid

• Use the whiteboard or a timeline poster to briefly explain:
• The 4 major parts: law, history, wisdom, prophets
• Key figures: such as Adam & Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, David
• Central themes: Creation, covenant, law, prophecy.

3. Group Activity: Bible exploration (15 min)

Objective: help students explore important verses and characters.

• Hand out worksheets with clues or prompts such as:
• “Find the verse where God gives Moses the Ten Commandments.”
• “Who was swallowed by a big fish?”
• “Where is the story of creation?”
• Allow students to work in pairs or small groups
• Review answers together.

4. Character match-up Game (10 min)

Objective: Learn who’s who in the Old Testament.

• Use flashcards or name tags for figures like Noah, Abraham, Moses, Ruth, David and others
• Children take turns matching characters with their stories or symbols
• Make it fun—act it out, quiz style, or do a quick “Who am I?” game.

5. Connecting the Old Testament to Jesus (5 min)

• Explain that the whole Old Testament prepares the way for Jesus
• Discuss prophecies (e.g., Isaiah 7:14, Micah 5:2) that point to the Messiah
• Use a simple analogy: “The Old Testament is the beginning of God’s love letter. Jesus is the fulfilment.”

6. Creative reflection (10 min)

Option A (younger children): draw a favourite Old Testament story or figure such as Moses
Option B (older children): write a short reflection: “If you could meet one person from the Old Testament, who would it be and why?”

7. Closing prayer (5 min)

• Thank God for the gift of Scripture
• Ask students to say one word or phrase they learned today
• Close with a prayer (could include a verse from Psalms).

Optional take-home assignment

Family discussion sheet: provide a handout with questions for kids to ask their parents about their favourite Old Testament stories.

Image inspiration ChatGPT with CN Whittle

EXPLORING THE OLD TESTAMENT - GOD'S BIG STORY BEGINS!

 

Hello, everyone!

Today, we’re going on a journey—a journey through the first part of the Bible called the Old Testament. It’s filled with exciting stories, wise sayings, songs, and God’s promises. Think of it like a library with many kinds of books, but all telling one big story—God’s love for His people.

1. The Books of the Law (The Torah or Pentateuch) – God's Instructions

📚 The books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy are the first five books of the Bible. They tell us how the world began, how sin entered the world, and how God began His special plan to save us.

• Genesis – The beginning! God made the world, and we meet people like Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, and Joseph
• Exodus – God rescues His people from slavery in Egypt with Moses
• Leviticus – laws to help the Israelites live holy lives
• Numbers – a long journey through the desert
• Deuteronomy – Moses reminds the people of God's laws before they enter the Promised Land.

The key message of these five books are that God gives us rules to live by because He loves us.

2. The historical Books – God's people and their journey

📚 The books of Joshua, Judges, Ruth, 1 & 2 Samuel, 1 & 2 Kings, 1 & 2 Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah and Esther tell stories about battles, kings, queens, and how God's people sometimes obeyed and sometimes forgot Him.

• Joshua – leads the people into the Promised Land
• Ruth – a story of loyalty and God’s plan
• Esther – a brave queen who saved her people.

The key message of these books is that God is always with His people, even when times are hard.

3. The Wisdom Books – Song of Songs and wise sayings

📚 The books of Job, Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon are full of songs, prayers, and wise advice.

• Psalms – songs to God, written by David and others
• Proverbs – wise sayings to help us make good choices
• Job – teaches us about trusting God, even when life is hard.

The key message of these books is that God helps us live wisely and is close to us when we pray.

4. The Prophets – Messages from God

📚 Major Prophets: Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, Daniel
📚 Minor Prophets: Hosea to Malachi (12 shorter books)

These books were written by prophets—people chosen by God to deliver His messages. Sometimes they warned people to turn back to God, and other times they gave hope about a Saviour who was coming.

• Isaiah – this prophet talks a lot about the coming of Jesus!
• Jeremiah – is also known as the "weeping prophet"
• Daniel – stories of faith and dreams, like Daniel in the lions' den.

The key message of these books is God sends messengers to guide us and promises a Saviour—Jesus!

So the Old Testament is full of different kinds of books which all work together like puzzle pieces in a big picture—the story of God’s Love for His people and His plan to save the world.

These stories help us know God today. And they all point forward to Jesus, the greatest gift of all!

🎁 Memory Verse Idea:
“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” – Psalm 119:105

Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle

CLASSROOM ACTIVITY PLAN: "THE HOLY BIBLE - GOD'S LOVE LETTER TO US"

 

Classroom Activity Plan: “The Holy Bible – God’s Love Letter to Us”

OBJECTIVE:

To help children understand what the Bible is, why it’s important, and how they can use the Bible in their daily lives through interactive learning.

1. OPENING PRAYER & WELCOME (5 min)

Say:
“Let’s begin by asking God to help us learn and love His Word.”

Prayer (repeat after you or read together):

"Dear Jesus, Thank You for the Bible, Your special book for us. Help us listen to Your words and live them every day. Amen."

2. MINI-LESSON: “What is the Bible?” (10 min)

Teach or review key points:

• The Bible is God’s Word to us
• The Bible has 66 books 
• The Bible is divided into two parts: the Old Testament and the New Testament
• The Bible tells the story of God’s love from the beginning of the world to Jesus and beyond.

Visual aid: hold up a Bible or use a children's picture Bible.

3. ACTIVITY STATIONS (30 minutes)

Break the class into 3 stations (about 10 minutes each). Rotate the groups through them or have them all do the same activity if class size is small.

🟦 Station 1: “Bible match game” (memory verse activity)

Materials:

• Flashcards with simple verses (cut in half)
• Example verses:
• “God is love” (1 John 4:8)
• “Jesus is the way” (John 14:6)
• “Your Word is a lamp” (Psalm 119:105)

How to play:

• Mix up the halves and lay them on a table
• Children take turns flipping two cards to find the matching halves of a verse
• When they find a match, they read the full verse aloud.

🟨 Station 2: “God’s Word craft” – Make a mini Bible bookmark

Materials:

• Colored paper strips
• Markers, stickers, scissors, glue
• Verse printed at the top: “Your Word is a lamp for my feet.” – Psalm 119:105

How to do it:

• Children decorate their bookmark with symbols of God’s Word (such as hearts, lamps, cross, lamb)
• Encourage the children to keep the bookmark in a book or Bible at home to remind them of God’s Word.

🟥 Station 3: “Bible story theatre” – act it out!

How to do it:

• Choose a short Bible story they know (such as Creation, Noah’s ark or the Nativity)
• Assign simple roles (such as God, Adam, Eve, Noah, animals, Joseph, Mary or angels)
• Let children act it out quickly with simple props or just hand motions.

This helps to reinforce the lesson through movement and imagination.

4. GROUP SHARING & WRAP-UP (10 min)

Questions to ask:

• What did you learn about the Bible today?
• Why is the Bible special?
• How can you read or listen to the Bible at home?

Let children share one thing they liked or learned from the activities.

5. CLOSING PRAYER & TAKE-HOME CHALLENGE (5 min)

Prayer:

"Dear God,

Thank You for Your Word. Help me to read it and love it. May I always follow Jesus and live what I learn. Amen."

Take-home challenge:

Encourage children to :

• Ask a parent to read a Bible story to them this week
• Use their bookmark during prayer time
• Memorise a short Bible verse (choose one from the match game).

Below are 2 simple Bible bookmark templates you can make and give to children to color. Each bookmark features a Bible verse and space for them to decorate with their own drawings, stickers, or colors. These are black-and-white outlines to encourage creativity.

🖨️ Instructions for Use:

• Print the bookmarks on cardstock for sturdiness (or regular paper if cardstock isn’t available)

• Cut along the lines

• Provide crayons, colored pencils, markers, and stickers

• Optional: Laminate finished bookmarks to preserve them.

📖 Bookmark Template 1: “God’s Word lights my path”

-------------------------------------------------
|                                               |
|   📖 Your Word is a lamp for my feet,         |
|       a light on my path.                     |
|         – Psalm 119:105                       |
|                                               |
|    [Draw a Bible, lamp, or footsteps here!]   |
|                                               |
|    💡 I will read God’s Word and follow Him!  |
|                                               |
-------------------------------------------------

📖 Bookmark Template 2: “Jesus loves me”

-------------------------------------------------
|                                               |
|   ❤️ Jesus said, "Let the little children     |
|       come to Me." – Matthew 19:14            |
|                                               |
|     [Draw yourself walking with Jesus!]       |
|                                               |
|   📖 I am loved by Jesus and I will love Him! |
|                                               |
-------------------------------------------------

Image inspiration Chatgpt and CN Whittle

THE HOLY BIBLE IS GOD'S LOVE LETTER TO US

 

Greetings, boys and girls! Today, I want to tell you about a very special book—a book that is unlike any other in the world. It is called the Holy Bible!

What is the Bible?

The Bible is God’s Word. It’s like a giant letter from God to us—His children. It tells us who God is, how much He loves us, and how we should live. It’s not just one book, but a whole library of 66 books! These books are divided into the Old Testament (39 books) and the New Testament (27 books).

The Bible has stories, songs, prayers, and teachings that help us know God better. It was written by people such as King David, Saints Matthew, Mark, Luke, John and Paul—but every word was inspired by God!

Why is the Bible important?

The Bible helps us:

• Know God – just as we get to know our friends by talking to them, we get to know God by reading His Word
• Follow Jesus – Jesus shows us how to love, forgive, and be kind. The Bible teaches us His Life and how to follow Him
• Make good choices – the Bible is like a guiding lamplight. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your Word is a lamp for my feet, a light for my path.”

What stories can we find in the Bible?

You might already know some of them:

• Creation – when God made the world and everything in it
• Noah’s ark – when God saved Noah and the animals from the flood
• David and Goliath – when a young boy trusted God and defeated a giant
• Jesus’ Life – His birth in Bethlehem, His miracles, His death on the cross, and His resurrection.

These stories are true and full of lessons to help us grow in our faith.

How do we read the Bible?

Even if you can’t read a big Bible yet, you can:

• Read a children’s Bible with pictures
• Ask your parents or teachers to read Bible stories to you
• Listen during church service or catechism class when the Bible is read aloud
• Pray and ask Jesus to help you understand what the Bible means.

Live the Bible every day

The Bible isn’t just a book to keep on a shelf. It’s a book to live by!

• When you’re kind to your friends—you’re living the Bible
• When you forgive someone—you’re living the Bible
• When you pray and trust God—you’re living the Bible.

Remember: The Bible is a treasure chest full of God’s wisdom and love. Let’s make time every day to open that treasure, even if it’s just for a little while.

God speaks to you through His Word. All you have to do is listen, and do your best to obey.

If you make mistakes, just turn to God and tell him you are sorry. Then promise to try to do better next time. This makes God very happy.

Let’s pray together:

Prayer:

"Dear Jesus,

Thank You for the gift of the Holy Bible. Help me to read it, love it, and live it every day. Speak to me through Your Word and help me to grow close to You.
Amen."

Image inspiration of Chatgpt and CN Whittle

WHAT WE BELIEVE - THE APOSTLES' CREED

 

Greetings, boys and girls!

Today, we’re going to talk about something very special—the Apostles’ Creed. It's a short statement, like a poem or a promise, that tells the world what we believe as Christians. People have been saying it for nearly 2,000 years! That’s older than your grandparents, your great-grandparents—and even older than any country today!

Let’s look at it piece by piece and learn what it means for you and me.

1. “I believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth.”
This means we believe in God who made everything—the stars, the oceans, puppies, flowers, and even you! Isn’t that amazing?

And guess what? God isn’t just a big power in the sky. He’s our Father. That means He loves you and wants to take care of you, just like a perfect parent.

2. “And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord…”

We believe in Jesus, God's Son. He came to show us what God is like. Jesus is our best friend. He was loving, kind, strong, and brave.

3. “…Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary…”
Jesus was a real baby, born just like you were. But He was also God! That’s a big mystery, but it shows us that God wanted to be close to us—in a way we could understand.

4. “…suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried.”
Jesus loved us so much that He was willing to suffer and die for our sins. That’s not the end, though...

5. “He descended to the dead. On the third day He rose again.”
He came back to life! Jesus beat death like a superhero—and now He gives us hope and joy, no matter what we face.

6. “He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of the Father…”
Jesus is alive and ruling with God. He’s watching over us, praying for us, and getting things ready for us.

7. “He will come again to judge the living and the dead.”
One day, Jesus will return to make everything right again—no more tears, no more sadness, only joy with Him forever.

8. “I believe in the Holy Spirit…”

God’s Spirit lives in us and helps us love like Jesus. He gives us strength when we’re weak and reminds us of what is right.

9. “The holy catholic Church, the communion of saints…”
This means we’re not alone. We are part of God’s big family all around the world—and even in Heaven! Everyone who loves Jesus has the joy of His friendship as we live our lives, getting ready for Heaven.

10. “The forgiveness of sins…”

We all mess up. But God forgives us when we say sorry. That’s good news!

11. “The resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.”
One day, we’ll live forever with God. Not just as spirits, but with brand new bodies that won’t get sick or sad again.

So children, the Apostles’ Creed is not just ancient words—it’s a powerful message of hope. It reminds us that:

• We are never alone.
• We are always loved.
• We have a purpose.
• The best is yet to come.

So the next time you say the Apostles’ Creed, pray it with joy—because these words are your story, your faith, and your future.

Let’s say it together now—with our hearts full of love and faith.

Image inspiration courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle

WHY WE ARE HERE, AND HOW WE GET TO HEAVEN

 

Greetings, children! Today, I want to talk to you about two very big and very important questions:

Why are we here?

And how do we get to heaven?

These are questions that even adults wonder about—but God has already given us the answers in the Bible!

Why are we here?

We are here because God made us with love.
The Bible tells us in Genesis that God created the world, the animals, the trees, the stars—and then He made people in His own image. That means we are special, made to be like Him in love, kindness, and goodness.

We are here to:

• Love God with all our heart.
• Love others as ourselves.
• Live in a way that shows God’s goodness to the world.

You are not here by accident. God made you for a reason. You are part of His big, beautiful plan!

How Do We Get to Heaven?

Heaven is God’s home. It’s full of peace, joy, and love.  It’s where there is no more sadness, no more tears, no more pain.

And the best part? God wants all His children to be with Him in Heaven forever.

So how do we get there?

• Believe in Jesus. He is God’s Son who came to show us the way. He died on the cross for our sins and rose again so we can live forever.

(John 3:16) “For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

• Follow Jesus every day. That means:
• Pray to God
• Read the Bible
• Be kind, honest, and forgiving
• Go to church and learn more about Him
• Know that God made us to know Him, to love Him, to serve Him, and to be happy with Him in Heaven forever,

• Say “Yes” to Jesus in your heart. That’s called faith. And faith is saying, “Jesus, I want to walk with You, trust You, and be with You forever.

Children, remember this:

🌟 You are here because God loves you and has a purpose for you
🌟 You can go to heaven by believing in Jesus and living for Him every day

🌟 Respect people who have different beliefs. We are all God's beloved children
🌟 Spread the Word of God.  Jesus called us to do this. Jesus said, "But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." (Acts 1:8).

Let’s pray together and thank God for His great love.

 

Image inspiration courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle

LEARNING TO KNOW, SERVE AND LOVE GOD

 

Greetings children!

Today we will learn about the most important relationship in our lives — our relationship with God! Did you know that God made you out of love and for a special purpose? That purpose is to know Him, to love Him, and to serve Him — and one day to be happy with Him forever in heaven!

How Do We Know God?

We get to know God just like we get to know a friend — by spending time with Him!

• Through His Word: the Bible is like God’s letter to us. When we read the stories about Jesus, we learn what God is like — kind, loving, strong, and always near
• Through prayer: when we talk to God, He listens. And when we listen in prayer, God speaks to our hearts
• Through His creation: look at the stars, the flowers, the animals, even your family and friends — all of these show how amazing and creative God is.

🌟 Here is an activity for you to do: Think about what part of God’s creation you love the most and why.

How Do We Love God?

When we love someone, we want to be close to them, listen to them, and do what makes them happy.

• By keeping His commandments: Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” That means being honest, kind, forgiving, and respectful
• By loving others: when we help a friend, share with someone in need, or forgive someone who hurt us, we are showing love to God
• By saying “thank You”: every time we say “Thank You, God,” we are showing love and trust.

🌟 Here is an activity for you to do: Think of ways you can show love to God (prayer, kindness and saying sorry).

How Do We Serve God?

Serving God means using our lives to make God happy and to help others.

• At home: you serve God by obeying your parents, helping your brothers and sisters, and being thankful
• At Church: you can serve by singing, praying, listening, and learning
• In everyday life: you can serve by doing good deeds — even small ones matter to God!

🌟 Here is an activity for you to do: think of ways you can serve — like helping a classmate or praying for someone.

Let’s remember:

• We get to know God through His Word, prayer, and the beauty around us
• We love God by keeping His commandments and loving others
• We serve God by doing good and living with joy for Him every day.

God made you for a reason. You are special, loved, and called to live for Him. And the more you know Him, the more you will love and want to serve Him!

Let us pray:

Dear God, thank You for making us, for loving us, and for always being near. Help us to know You better, to love You more, and to serve You every day. We want to live for You with happy hearts. Amen.

🌟 1. To KNOW God

Memory Verse:

"Be still, and know that I am God." – Psalm 46:10

This verse reminds us to take time to be quiet and listen to God, especially in prayer.

❤️ 2. To LOVE God

Memory Verse:

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart." – Luke 10:27

God wants our whole hearts! We show our love for Him by obeying, praying, and being kind.

🌟 3. To SERVE God

Memory Verse:

"Serve the Lord with gladness." – Psalm 100:2

Serving God isn't boring — it's joyful! Every time we help, share, or pray, we serve Him with a smile.

🕊️ VERSE:

"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." – 1 Corinthians 10:31

Whether we are studying, playing, or helping others, we can do everything as a way to love and honour God!

👉 ACTIVITY: PRINT OUT THE PICTURE, AND HAVE FUN COLOURING IN YOUR VERY OWN BIBLE VERSE PAGE!

Images inspiration courtesy of ChatGPT and CN Whittle