6 th Grade

1. 6th Grade “ God is good, all the time.”

2. Objectives • At the end of tonight’s session, you should be able to: A. Understand that the first family struggled because of original sin; B. Know that God made a covenant with Noah; C. Realize that the unity of the human race was lost; D. Know that God reaches out to help mankind, and that He offers the hope of salvation.

3. Faith Words to learn Original sin : • First sin committed by the first human beings. • It weakened all of human nature. • Because of original sin, human beings (like you & me) are more likely to disobey God; there is evil in the world; and our relationships are sometimes difficult. How is original sin forgiven? • Through our baptism. We are born to a new life as sons and daughters of God.

4. Sin: • “missing the point” so, we end up not doing what is right or correct • A thought • A word against God’s laws . • Deed or action • An omission • Through sin, humans severely damaged their friendship with God.

5. Free will : • The freedom and ability to choose what to do. • God granted all of us the dignity to act on our own & cooperate in His plan of loving goodness.

6. Faithfulness: • The loyalty & steadfastness that God shows to all humans, even when they sin. • God’s offer of friendship is never withdrawn.

7. The Story of Creation Tells us: • The beauty and wonder of the natural world • Emphasize the goodness & harmony that God intended in all of his Creation • Culminates in human beings, God’s own image & likeness • That we are all here because God wanted US at this time in this place for a special reason

8. To sum up: - • God always was, even before the universe was created • God created everything • God created humans in the image of God • Gods loves all of his Creation • God created us to be happy and live in perfect harmony with Him, with each other, and all creation

9. Story of Adam & Eve • About the human weakness for sinning and disobeying God • The serpent is symbolic. It is “temptation.” • The serpent told Adam & Eve that they can be like God, and know good & evil. They disobeyed God. • Their relationship of trust with God was broken. • Taught us that soon after men & women were created, sin entered human history & led to pain and suffering.

10. The Story of Cain & Abel Four levels on which this story can be understood: - • “Cain & Abel” is about the sacredness of human life • It is about the separation of human beings • Respect for others and for life • The healing power of God’s love

11. Religious truths in the story of Cain & Abel: • Each one of us is responsible for one another: family, friends, strangers. • We are brothers and sisters because God created us that way. • We cannot avoid the obligation to watch out for one another. • That all life is sacred; even the life of someone who takes someone else’s life.

12. The Story of Noah • God was fed up with human beings. • Even though they were created in God’s image, they insisted on disobeying God. • So, God “destroyed everyone and started from scratch.” • The Great Flood was illustrated as the ancient belief that God washed the world clean of sinfulness & gave another chance to those who were faithful.

13. Noah’s Faithfulness • God takes great care to save Noah & his family • They were very faithful to God • They were the only ones who lived as God wanted them to live. • Because of them God decided that the world was worth saving after all.

14. After the Great Flood, God made a covenant with Noah. What covenant did God make with Noah? • God promised not to send another flood to destroy the earth.

15. Religious Truths about the Story of Noah • God’s forgiveness and love can overcome • Humanity’s goodness ALL evil • All people are called to friendship with God

16. Symbolism of the Rainbow • It is a sign of God’s covenant with Noah and all humanity. • When God and Israel see the rainbow in the clouds, they will recall their covenant together. • It represents both God’s love and the Church.