Lesson No. ( 3 ) The Cross

References

1 Corinthians 1:17, 18, 2:2
Galatians 6:14.

Notes for Servants

★ Beloved servant, do you experience the power of the cross in your life. Do you believe that the Cross is the sign of your salvation and your freedom.
★ "For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

1 Cor 1:18

Objectives

General: To teach the children to love the cross and to be proud of it.
Specific: The children will be able to ...
A. Believe in the power of the Cross.
B. Make the sign of the Cross before they do anything.
C. Learn, as good Christians, to be quiet in the church and during
the Sunday School lesson.

Bible Verse

" Take up your Cross and follow me. "

Teaching Aids

A cross made of coloured paper to be stuck on cardboard paper, or made of reeds, or palm leaves, or of postage stamps, or  of snails or the stones of fruit, according to the environment.

Introduction

(1) Review last week's lesson.
(2) Who remembers the verse?
(3) Remind the children about the church occasions for the coming week.
(4) Servant should always start the lesson by making the sign of the cross. The servant may ask the following questions: Where do you usually see the cross? Why do Christians make the sign of the cross? Why do they carry the cross? When do we make the sign of the cross? Who of you have ever visited a monastery? Who lives there?

Story Time

A man wanted to be a monk. The man was very simple, sweet-tempered, clean and tidy. He always went to church as soon as he heard the church bell. He received the Holy Communion once a week. He kept silent during the mass prayers. He neither looked right nor left. He loved his brothers the monks and served them. He cleaned the monastery courtyard. He was very active and energetic, but he could not learn anything. They tried to teach him the psalms or any prayers, but he could not. He couldn’t even learn the Lord's Prayer, "Our Father who art in heaven." But he knew how to make the sign of the cross. He used to say: "The power of the cross protects me." The head abbot said, "This brother is unfit." He decided to send him back home. The same night while he was sleeping, he had a dream. The room was filled with a wonderful bright light and Jesus appeared in the middle of the light. The abbot bowed down to Jesus. Jesus said to him, "Why are you thinking of sending that monk home? Come and see how much the devils fear him."

The abbot saw a group of devils holding a meeting. They were all discussing a serious problem. What is the matter? They were plotting against the new monk. They wanted to make him fall, but they did not know how. He heard the following conversation:
"Who will go to cause this silly monk to sin?"
"I shall go."
"If you make him commit sin, I'll give you a wonderful crown."
"Yes, your majesty."

The devil ran quickly. He tried to enter the monk's cell, but he could not. He came back ashamed, his face looking to the ground. He said, "I am sorry, I could not." Satan was furious and cried loudly, "Who will go?" Another devil said, "I shall go, your majesty."

The other devil ran, went up and tried to get closer to him. However, he could not do that because he saw the sign of the cross in flames like fire. He could not stay, so he ran away. "I could not," he said. Satan cried more loudly, and asked them why couldn't they cause the new monk to sin, What does he do?" Then, he sent a big group of devils and they all came back ashamed of themselves and said, "We could not enter the monk's cell." He said to them, "What does he do? Does he pray?" They said, "He does not even know the Lord's Prayer."

"Does he recite the psalms?"
"No, neither can he read the Bible. He does not know how to read or how to write." Then, Satan said, "Then this monk is an empty vessel. Why cannot you defeat him?" They said, "He is always makes the sign of the cross over himself, his face and his heart. Before he does anything, he says, "The power of the cross protects me and keeps me safe." Before he sleeps, he makes the sign of the cross. Then, he says the same words." Satan shook his head and said, "Ah, this is an empty vessel but it is sealed." The abbot woke up and knew the meaning of the dream. He accepted the new monk, put the monk's robe on him and gave him the cross.

Discussion

1 - Follow up the story by talking about it with the children.
2 - Continue the discussion while they do the activity.

Learning Activities

Activity Sheet. The Cross.pdf