Christian Living and Doctrines – Page 3 – Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church Sunday School Department

“Love one another” (John 13:34)

The most powerful and wonderful feeling in the history of mankind is ‘Love.’ It is the reason for our existence since without it, we shall not survive life on earth. Humans are to love one another for it is the command of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. It is written in the gospel of Saint John as, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Rise up!

Man came to be alive for a life given by God, with His precious work. He created Him from dust and wind, then saw how great it was! He gave him life for he could live in heaven forever. Unfortunate to all the human race though for the first mankind ate the forbidden fruit and brought death upon the world.

Human beings were to die eternally for it would not have been for the Holy Father, who send His Holy Son for the salvation of men and Lord and Savior Jesus Christ defeating the enemy Satan and overcame death. The rise of Lord Jesus Christ is thus the life after death in Kingdom of Heaven.

Faithfulness

Dear Children of God, how are you? How is school? Are you studying well? How about your Christian life? How are you doing during the Great Fast? Hope you have been brave and strong to pass all your exams and be obedient in your Christianity! Good!

Dear Children! Christianity is revealed through our work. God always would like us to be good, obedient and strong. He wants us to live by His law and obey Him so that He would give us everlasting happiness. He likes His children to have good heart, smart mind and strengthfull life in which He wishes to take us to Him in the heavens where there is only happiness but not sadness, peace but not destruction, love but no hatred. So people live happily ever after in heaven. Children, amongst the deed that God love, faithfulness is one of them.

Fast of Nineveh

The Fast of Nineveh is a three-day fast starting Monday to Wednesday usually abstaining from all dairy foods and meat products. Moreover, it is to more meticulously abstain from food and drink altogether for three consecutive days. This year’s fast starts from Tir 29 (February 6) and ends at Yekatit 1 (February 8).

Christians Living

Dear Children of God! How are you? How is school? Are you studying well and following you’re your teacher’s lesson? We hope you are doing well in your study! Children, it is very important to be good and brave students for a brighter future and happy ending.

Dear Children of God! If we acquire (get) knowledge, it is likely that we become wise, intelligent and brave having all the good answers for our every questions in our lives. We do not only have the right responds for all the tests that our teachers give us but also for every mystery (secret) of life. But this becomes true or possible when we follow the ten commandments doing all the good endeavors (work). We have to be good children of God and Christians. So, today we will teach you how to be Christians in Christians living. First let us see what it means to be Christian.

“Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21)

Once Pope Shenouda III in his homily said, “The person with peace of heart, does not fear evil, for he says to the Lord as David the Prophet says, “If I walk in the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” (Psalm 23:4) The faithful person lives in peace, for God exists and acts; manages all. He is the protector and the helper.

However, the one who has lost peace, even imagines difficulties when they do not exist, and even though there is Divine power surrounding him, he does not recognize it, and that is his great crisis. If you have an accepted prayer, you shall live in peace, and you will feel that since you have placed your troubles in prayer before God, and that He has received your case and surrounds it with His abundant mercies, He will lift your sufferings. And in the beginning of this new year, we pray that God intervenes and solves the problems of individuals and nations, even if they seem complicated and unsolvable. “For that which is impossible with men, is possible with God.” (Homily in Saint George and Saint Shenouda Coptic Orthodox Church, January 7, 2006)

Saint Paul said, “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21). Hominid shall have patient in overcoming every harms and pass his test than to face them by force using physical power. Lord Jesus Christ told us, “In the world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33) “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ” (Matthew 11:28) It is even more better to do good by and for our enemy for satan will anguish towards us in seeing the predicament be solved and the devil will depart far.

“Look to The East” (Divine Liturgy)

The word ‘East’ has religious meanings accord Holy Churches education. To begin with, Holy Mother Saint Mary and Holy Church is symbolized by east. “Originally altars were located at the east end of churches because it is there where the sun rises, symbolizing Christ as the “Sun of righteousness who sends His illuminating rays to light our souls.” (Dictionary of Church terms by Father Tadros Yacoub Malaty page 42)

“You shall not steal” (Exodus 20:15)

Dear Children of God! How are you? How is school and your study? We hope you are doing well and following you’re your teacher’s education! Children, as the first semester is coming to an end in few weeks, you shall ask what you have learned so far. it is very important to understand and learn by heart what you teachers taught you until now so that you can pass all your exams with very good grades and acquire knowledge for you success of future. Ok, Good!

Dear Children! This week’s lesson is about stealing which is amongst the ten commandment. God has commanded all human beings to keep this rule and live by it. He told Prophet Mosses on the Mount of Sinai included in the ten commandment “You shall not steal.” (Exodus 20:15) The Israeli people were commanded by the Prophet to be honest, not to touch anything of someone else’s belonging and not to take each other’s possessions (materials) so that there could be trust among them.

“Before God, I do not lie” (Galatians 1:20)

Dear Children of God! How are you? How is school? Are you studying well and following you’re your teacher’s education? We hope you are doing well in your study! Children, it is very important to be active and attentive at your school so that you could become a good and brave students passing all your exams with very good grades. This will help you to have a bright future and be successful when you grow up.

Dear Children of God! The foremost valuable thing you should know about success is that it is given from God. If you obey the Lord by being good children without any bad deed and sin, He will give you good life. This means you will be happy, rich and strong person in the future. But, it is important to remember to obey God’s commandment and live by His rule. Children, do you remember the ten commandments? If so that is very good. But if not, it is a better if you learn them soon because they are guidance of our lives. However, if you do not know them, it is probable that you make a mistake and sin (do bad deeds) and disappoint (sadden) God.

Dear Children, we believe by now you know that God does not like bad deeds and people. It is necessary to always remember this and know If you are bad, He will punish you. Children, among other sins God does not like lying or people who lie. Do you know why that is? It is because lying is bad and a wrong thing. It is also disobeying God. Saint Paul the apostle has written in his epistle (letter) to the Galatia people “now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.” (Galatians 1:20) That is why today we will teach you about “Lie” which is a sin.”

Works of Mercy

Merciful as He is, God has granted us yet another new year, “The Year of Luke” for we can rinse out our vices entirely. We have added one more year to our lifetime and getting older by the day walking towards the end of earthly life. It is today that we shall realize the mystery of salvation and acknowledge the path to heavenly kingdom. Our destiny shall be shade by God’s mercy for we are His children.

All in the name of Lord Jesus Christ shall be merciful as He taught us saying, “blessed are the merciful for they will receive mercy.” (Matthew 5:7) Patristic fathers teach about the two categories of works of mercy, “Corporal works of mercy” and “Spiritual works of mercy”