Cross and Candle

The Ninth Commandment - God's No

For this lesson you only need a blank piece of paper and pencil or pen.

1.  Gather with your children at the kitchen table or a coffee table.

2.  Set up your cross and light your candle and say to the children:  The Bible says that Jesus is the Light of the world.

3.  Recite this litany with the children echoing the words:

• Light takes away darkness.
• Jesus is the Light
• Because He takes away
• The darkness of sin.

4.  Choose someone to act as the scribe.  Make a list for each person in the family of what makes that person happy.  (The lists could include toys or things, people, foods, places, ideas, etc.)

5.  Talk about why or what is it about the things, that make you happy.

6.  What if you could not have that toy or person or place anymore?  Would you be unhappy?  This is a tough question because God gives us the things, people, and places that make us happy so we can expect to be unhappy when we lose them.  But we also need to remember that our "happiness" doesn't depend solely on things or people or places but on the love of God and the hope we have in Him.

7.  Say the Ninth Commandment together:  You shall not covet your neighbor's house.

8.  Covet is a tough word.  It means that when we want what others have we are not content with what God has given us.  We think our happiness depends on having lots of things that others have.

9.  Talk about that.  Can you think of something someone else has that you'd like to have?  Can you live without it?  Can you be happy without it?

10.  Make a "deal" with each other that you will cherish and love what God has given you and be happy with that, even if sometimes it doesn't seem as good as what others have.

Prayer:  Dear Lord, thank you for all you've given me.  Help me to love and take care of my things, places, and people.  Amen.

Sing Together:  "Give Thanks With a Grateful Heart"

   Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the holy One,

   Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.

   Give thanks with a grateful heart, Give thanks to the holy One,

   Give thanks because He's given Jesus Christ, His Son.

   And now let the weak say "I am strong." Let the poor say "I am rich"

   Because of what the Lord has done for us.

   And now let the weak way "I am strong" Let the poor say "I am rich"

   Because of what the Lord has done for us.  Give thanks, give thanks