Sunday School info

Starting last Sunday and continuing until the end of the school year, we are doing a World Religions series for our Sunday School class. We started with Christianity and took a look at the different denominations and what sets them apart. Yesterday we learned about Judaism. it's one of my favourites to learn about and then share with our students because we share the Old Testament and so it can be much easier to understand than many other world religions that have little in common with Christianity.

We spent the lesson looking at the basics of Judaism, the temple history, the mitzvot (Jewish law) which included lots of Bible verse lookups, and the many celebrations and holidays that are part of the faith. We even tried unleavened bread (or the closest thing I could find at the grocery store!).

I will be turning my teaching notes into handouts for any students who missed a lesson but would still like to learn about each religion. They will be up front on one of the folders hanging on the wall next to the Welcome Table in our youth toom.

If you want to discuss the Judaism lesson with your teen, here are some questions to bring up:

·         In Acts 2:36-39, Peter told people in the crowd that they had to repent of their sins. Why does God want you to repent to be forgiven of your sins? What is the significance of repentance?

·         Peter also made sure to tell his Jewish audience that Jesus was the Messiah. Why was it hard for Jews to embrace Jesus as the Messiah?

·         What’s the best way to pray for a friend or family member who is Jewish, and why?