God the Father
Level: Beginning Catechism
Purpose: An overview of the nature
of the Father from an Orthodox viewpoint
Objective: Students will recite aloud assigned
Bible verses, will discuss what can be known for certain about God, will
discuss how God can touch and act without being known. A thorough understanding of the differences
between essence and energy should be reached.
Materials Required: 1 Bible per student,
blackboard or large drawing pad with appropriate writing implement.
Presentation:
Instructor will describe limited human
capacity for expression. Ask students to search out verses which use metaphors
of human emotions or body parts with regard to the Father. Students will
discuss why metaphors are used. (hand: Ex.7:5; Deut.5:15; Josh.4:25;
Prov.21:1; arm: Ex.15:16; Deut.4:34; Ps.97:1; feet: Nahum 1:3;
Mal.4:3; face: Gen.3:8; Ex.33:11; Num.6:25; Ps.12:1; wings: Ruth
2:12; back parts?: Ex.33:23)
Instructor will write on board a table
with two categories:
Instructor will as students to describe God. Students will be asked to search out verses which describe God (i.e. – invisible, 2 Cor 4:18; Col 1:15; without end, Ps 102:27 KJV, fills the universe Jer 23:24). Students will discuss how people knew what God was like.
Instructor will write on board a table with two categories:
Who God is What God
does
From previous examples and personal experience, students will fit their knowledge of God into these categories. Instructor will ask how they know what God is. Discussion follows.