PSALM 19 -- Homework Assignment #3

  To Link to online editions of the Holy Bible, at the Bible Gateway website, Click HERE  

 To Link to a Printable Copy of Psalm 19, NIV (2011) version - Large print, click on this link:  PSALM  19  (NIV)

  
 To Link to a Printable Copy of Assignment #3, click on this link:  Homework Assignment #3

Parents -- Please NOTE:   

1. Assignments are accepted when your child attends his/her next class session; there is no penalty for missing a class session.    
2. Assignment #3 is the final assignment for Psalm 19.  On August 3rd, there will not be any new assignments made.   It  was announced in class that this homework could be turned-in on August 3rd or 10th.  Beginning on August 10th, we will study the next Psalm for the Summer -- Psalm 23.

Psalms for the Summer

Psalm 19 -- Assignment #3

This is to be done at home by each student.   Parents can assist/quiz their child, to help them with the written assignment and with memorization of Verse 1.    

We have assigned Verse 1 (only) as the Memory verse for this Psalm; other individual verses have also been emphasized, but not assigned for memorization.   Verse One is shown here, in the NIV translation, which is the one used for this memory assignment:

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  

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Short-Answer Essay Assignment:  

Write two short essays, to comment and/or explain your thoughts, on the two items listed below.   You can use the back of this sheet, or a separate sheet of lined paper.   Each essay can be brief, but must use correct spelling, and also:

• be at least three full sentences;
• express a serious thought about the item presented -- showing that you have respect for, and are showing honor to, the Word of God, the Holy Bible.

1.   Re: Psalm 19: 9b and 10  ---   The decrees of the Lord are firm,

   and all of them are righteous.

10 They are more precious than gold,

   than much pure gold;

they are sweeter than honey,

   than honey from the honeycomb.

Please make a personal statement to explain your thoughts about what is meant by the Psalmist’s expression “sweeter than honey” and about how this applies to you.  What should you do, based on the teaching in these verses?  

 2. Re: Psalm 19: 14 - 14 May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart

   be pleasing in your sight,

   Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Please make a personal statement explaining what the meditation of my heart  means to you.   

"GOD is the Creator" -- Comments on Psalm 19: 1

Psalm 19: 1 is an affirmation of one of the foundations of our Biblical Christian worldview:   

God is the Creator.

PSALMS for the Summer - Comments on Psalm 19: 1

By: George Nielsen

1 The heavens declare the Glory of God.  The skies proclaim the work of His hands.            Psalm 19:1

King David declares how the stars, the sun, and the moon all show us that God is powerful and His works are wonder to behold.   David understood that the vastness of space, along with its orderly flow, as positions of the sun, moon, and the stars changed over time (when viewed from his perspective on earth), were a blessing to us from God.  He understood that it would have been impossible for all this to have just “happened” -- as some random event.    More than 3,000 years have passed since David wrote this, but it still is impossible for all of this to be the result of some random “bang” event.

Paul the Apostle also wrote in his Epistles to confirm this very idea.  Nature, can be carefully studied, and when it is, this affirms what the Holy Bible has declared.    “In Romans 1:20, Paul explains that God's eternal power and divine nature can be seen in nature, ‘in the things He has made’ – His poiema.  The Greek word translated as things is poiema, from which we get our word "poem".    Paul tells us that all of creation contains works of incredible art -- created by GOD to demonstrate and reflect His glory.” **

Psalm 19: 1 is an affirmation of one of the foundational parts of our Biblical Christian worldview:   God is the Creator.   He has this awesome power, and He has produced a wonderful and beautiful universe.  There was not any “bang” -- a random explosion of matter.    As Creator, God is to be honored, praised, trusted, and obeyed.    

( ** quoted from: Parenting by Design daily devotional, Day 94, at YouVersion.com)

Psalm 19 -- Homework #2 -- 7/20/14

 To Link to online editions of the Holy Bible, at the Bible Gateway website, Click HERE  

 To Link to a Printable Copy of Psalm 19, NIV (2011) version - large print, click on this link:  PSALM  19  (NIV)

  
 To Link to a Printable Copy of Assignment #2, click on this link:  Homework Assignment #2 

Parents -- Please NOTE:   Assignments are accepted when your child attends his/her next class session; there is no penalty for missing a class session.    

  


                                                                       Name:  _________________________________

Psalms for the Summer

Psalm 19 -- Assignment #2

This is to be done at home by each student.   Parents can assist/quiz their child, to help them with the written assignment and with memorization of Verse 1.    

We are assigning Verse 1 (only) as the Memory verse for this Psalm.   The verse is shown on the attached sheet, in the NIV translation, which is the one used for this memory assignment.   

Students can do the written assignment, based on reading the Psalm in any version they choose; in class, the NIV-2011 version will be used for discussion.  A copy of this version is attached.

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Student Assignment :

After reading the Psalm, verses 1--14, students should reflect on the messages stated within this Psalm, and then:

• Write a Caption to express the thought or the Truth stated, writing using their own words.  This can be just a phrase, or can be up to One complete sentence.    Correct Spelling is expected.
• Students must write THREE separate captions.    If the student wishes to do so, they can write a fourth caption, applying this caption to verse 14 only, saying (for example) “A Closing Prayer to God”.
• WRITE the Captions in the space below:
• Verses 1 -- 6:   ________________________________________ ____________________________________________________
• Verses 7 -- 11:   _______________________________________ ____________________________________________________
• Verses 12 -- 13 (or 14):   ________________________________ ____________________________________________________
• (Optional)  Verse 14:   __________________________________

PSALM 19 — Commentary for Verses 1 -- 6

      To Link to a Printable copy of the Full Commentary (pages 1--3) Click HERE

Page 1 of the Commentary is shown below; this is the content that was presented in class on July 20th.   Definitions for Majesty and Glory are shown on pages 2 and 3.  Access those pages by clicking the link shown above.

PSALM 19 — Commentary for Verses 1 -- 6

  By:  George Nielsen

“A Powerful God”  

God’s Power and Love are shown in the glory and majesty of creation.  

(We will briefly cover definitions of the words glory and majesty in class; these are new words to many 5th graders, so parents should go over the definitions with their child.)   

Our Focus for the students is

• that they recognize God’s power and love, as seen in creation, and particularly when they consider the stars in the sky, and the sun.
• Also, we declare, just like David did when writing this Psalm, that it is impossible for the order and the systematic astronomical flow and motion of the stars in the heavens (the appearance of motion, as the earth is moving around the sun) to be the result of some random, uncontrolled event -- the explosion of matter, referred to as  “the Big Bang.”
• We have explained briefly, in earlier classes, how the moon and the stars were used to mark the passage of time, and for the development of a calendar:  
• the sighting of the first sliver of the new moon was the indication that a new month had begun.
• each month had a different formation of stars that appeared overhead, and the pattern formed in a particular month would re-appear every thirteenth new moon - resulting in naming of months and in a 12-month annual calendar.
• God gave mankind this astronomical system to help us to have order in our lives, and also to have special “appointed times” (in Hebrew: ‘moedim’) for worship and giving special offerings to God.   These “appointed times” - known as Feasts of the Lord are still important for Christian people today.

Psalm 19 -- Homework #1 -- 7/13/14

Psalms for the Summer

Psalm 19 -- Assignment #1

This is to be done at home by each student.   Parents should sign at the bottom of this page, to verify that reading has been completed.    

We are assigning Verse 1 (only) as the Memory verse for this Psalm;  parents can assist/quiz their child to help them with this verse.  The verse is printed below, in the NIV translation, which is the one used for this memory assignment.   

Students can do the assigned reading/reciting of the Psalm in any version they choose.

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Student Assignment :

1 (a)   Read the entire Psalm yourself, silently, from your own Bible.   Then, read the Psalm aloud to another person, preferably your parent.

 (b)   Re-read Verse 1, using your own Bible or using the verse, as printed below (from the NIV translation).    Think about the verse and prepare to answer this question during next week’s class:   “What does this verse mean (to me)?”

2        Verse 1 is assigned as a special Memory Verse (the other Memory Verse from our lessons is also still assigned).  

USE This Version for Memorizing:

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

   the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

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      TO LINK TO A PRINTABLE VERSION OF THIS ASSIGNMENT - CLICK Here   

5th Grade Special Bible Reading Program

5th Grade Special Bible Reading Program

PSALMS  for  the  SUMMER

Introduction

The 5th grade Special Bible Reading program for 2014-15 is focused on portions of two New Testament Gospels, and two very theologically significant Psalms:

seven chapters from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, and

Psalms 19, and 23.    

During the Summer, we will be reading and studying the Psalms.    The program has both a reading component and a writing component.   

Students are permitted to receive help from parents on the written work.   One of the learning objectives in fifth grade is that the students get practice at, and develop proficiency at expressing their ideas, both verbally and in writing.  

  

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1. During July, we will read, then study and discuss Psalm 19.   Verse One (in the NIV translation, shown below) is the Special Memory Verse for July, and the first week in August.   Each week, beginning July 13th, the students will have an at-home assignment, and there will be a form provided for the parents to acknowledge that their child has completed reading assignments.  The form will also be used for the students’ written assignments, and it should be brought back to class the following week.  

If your child will be absent, you can stay current by submitting assignments as email attachments, and/or by getting assignments/forms to be completed at the 5th grade Class Blog (see information below).   After each class, some additional commentary about Psalm 19 will also be posted on the Blog.

   

 2.   USE This Version for Memorizing:

1 The heavens declare the glory of God;

  the skies proclaim the work of his hands.    Psalm 19: 1

   

 3.   These are the addresses for contacting the 5th grade class/teacher:

Email:    rcc.5gr@gmail.com

Class Blog:   rcc5gr.blogspot.com

JESUS

JESUS, Our Savior, pictured on the night of His betrayal and arrest, as He enters the Garden of Gethsemane  --  He now is The KING of Kings and the LORD of Lords.

In our class, this picture is a visual image we use as a reminder -- Jesus is the Son of God and our Savior, and we worship HIM.   

Our Class Motto is:  "We Serve JESUS".     We intend for that to be true both in the classroom and also outside of class, every day.

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Picture shown above is from Google Images.   Image is taken from "The Passion of the Christ."  Used by permission.   

5th Grade Memory Verses for June/July, 2014:

Memory Verses for June/July, 2014:

12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.    

Colossians 3: 12 - 14 (NIV)

“Locked-In -and- Focused”

“Locked-In  -and-  Focused”

Learning All You Can -- To Be Prepared to Lead, in God’s Kingdom

By  George Nielsen

It can be hard to pay attention in Sunday School when you’re focused on other things.    But remember: this is your learning time.   A primary goal for this year, for the fifth graders, is that you agree to be Young Disciples of Jesus, and then devote yourself to this task.   

In our class, we have lessons taken from the Holy Bible, and Scripture passages assigned as Memory Verses.   We also have the 5th Grade Special Bible Reading Program.   For now, this is “Psalms for the Summer.”    In late fall and in early spring, there will be two additional reading assignments.  

The phrase we use in 5th grade class, to remind students to pay attention, is  “BE Locked-in -- and Focused! "     

Don’t even give yourself a chance to be distracted by other students -- be Locked-in.    And discipline yourself to stay locked-in.    The flow of information, questions, and discussion will keep your attention; and --please note-- you are a 5th grader.  You can have input into the class,too.    If you stay Locked-in, you’ll be able to speak-up when it is called-for, after raising your hand and being acknowledged (to go ahead and speak).   And, WE WANT YOU TO.  We want you to have practice at expressing your thoughts and ideas.

Begin your time in each class by sitting down (even if you have chosen a friend that you want to sit next to) but instead of focusing on your classmate(s), take a moment to stop and think about Jesus.  He is the Person we will follow, as a disciple.     When I do this, I usually say to myself, “Thank you Jesus, for being my Savior.”   

Training yourself to think first about Jesus is a good practice.  It will help you to then be better able to stay focused on the specific topic or idea being presented throughout the class.    It may be true that most of the little kids can’t pay attention -- but, you are 5th graders.  You’re not little kids anymore.

Young Disciples are getting ready for whatever God calls them to do.  Consider this:

Jesus was thirty years old before he started his ministry. Before that, he was learning.

Before Moses led God’s people out of Egypt, he spent forty years in the desert herding sheep—and learning.

Your Sunday School class may seem hard. But don’t be fooled—these are important times of learning.   

God has a plan for you, and you want to be ready. Learn everything you can in Sunday School, be faithful as a Young Disciple of Jesus.  That way, you will be more prepared to work in God’s kingdom.