A PROMISE IS a PROMISE Covenants and Salvation History EDGE NIGHT OUTLINE

A PROMISE IS A PROMISE Covenants and Salvation History EDGE NIGHT OUTLINE

GOAL GATHER SCRIPTURE & CCC: The middle school youth will identify the covenants in the Old Testament CAST YOUR BALLOT • Genesis 6-9 (Noah) that God made with His people As the youth enter, give each one a (Noah, Abraham, Moses and David) ¼ piece of paper and let them know • Genesis 15, 17 (Abraham) and what it means to be a part of His it is for an important vote for later. family. Also, have Core Team approach the • Exodus 19 (Moses) youth, ask them a question, and then EDGE NIGHT AT A GLANCE ask the youth “Do you promise?” • 2 Samuel 7 (David) God did not simply create the For instance, Core: “How was your world and then step back and basketball game?” Youth: “It was • CCC # 56-64 watch. Instead, God wants to be in okay. I scored 12 points.” Core: “Do relationship with His people. When you promise you scored 12 points?” • CCC # 71-72 God established relationships in the Old Testament, He did it by making • CCC # 1150 OPENING MUSIC a covenant with His people. A Have “Lose My Soul” by Toby Mac covenant is not just a promise or a • CCC # 2056-2063 playing as the teens enter (music contract that can be easily broken; video found on Edge Video Support 1) God’s covenants are eternal. With each covenant in the Old Testament, WELCOME & God promises to be our faithful and INTRODUCTION loving Father. In return we are called 1. Welcome and introduce new teens. to be faithful and obedient to Him. SUPPLIES NEEDED: The covenants of the Old Testament 2. Recognize and celebrate any youth are God’s design to make us a part or Core celebrating a birthday by • Large Bible & Stand (from of His family. singing “Happy Birthday.” Secret Admirer Edge Night) Tonight, the youth will at frst be 3. Present a brief overview of the • ¼ Piece of paper per youth bombarded with Core Team asking session. them to make promises or making • Pens promises to them as a sign of how often we might ask someone, “Do OPENING PRAYER This prayer should be based on the • Handout A: Covenant Tips you promise?” The night will open overview of the session. Ask the Holy (page 58) with campaign speeches from phony candidates making promises they Spirit to reveal to us our identity as God’s adopted sons and daughters. • Handout B: Examination of cannot keep. Ultimately, the youth will Virtue (page 59) examine how much they trust God. CANDIDATE’S SPEECHES This skit will help to open the night. • Poster board ENVIRONMENT You will need two Core Team Have two podiums at the front of the members dressed professionally and • Markers room with posters that say, “Vote standing behind a podium ready to for ______.” On the walls, have give their “promise” speeches. One • Glue posters or butcher paper that says, candidate is giving the “what I can “A Father Keeps His Promise.” • Construction paper do for you?” speech and the other is giving the “what can you do for me?” speech. The speeches should also

50 bounce back and forth in an attempt a part of His family. In order to create to outdo one another. Feel free to that “family bond” God made a MEDIA SUGGESTIONS: add in personal fare to each of the covenant with His people. Marriage is characters. like that. A man and a woman come • Song: “Love Has Come” by together to make a covenant – a Matt Maher See skit on page 56. family. • Music Video: “Lose Connect the Dots My Soul” by Toby Mac The covenants in the Old Testament (Edge Video Support 1) PROCLAIM help us to connect the history of God’s people. Each covenant • Movie Clip: The Day After SCRIPTURE comes from God. God tells us that Tomorrow PROCLAMATION He wants us to be in His family, but Hebrews 10:15-18 we must be faithful and obedient to His law. God’s covenant starts with PROCLAIM TALK Adam and Eve and with each new Purpose of the Covenants covenant, the family is expanded until Depending on the time of year, you the fnal covenant that is made with may hear speeches just like the ones Jesus Christ and the family involves given tonight. People want to get the entire world. Let’s take a look at your attention, so they begin making the fve major covenants in the Old promises that they aren’t even sure Testament. they can keep, like those two we just heard. We may do the same 1. Adam and Eve: The frst covenant thing sometimes. When we want is with a man and woman, something from our parents, we may husband and wife. They are to promise to do the dishes if they will give completely of themselves as let us go somewhere with our friends. a sign of God’s love. In the past Or maybe we make a promise with few weeks, we’ve seen how this God: “God if you help me get out turned out – Adam and Eve sinned. of trouble, I promise to go to Mass However, God did not abandon us; every Sunday for the rest of my life.” He continued to love us and gave Does this sound familiar? You may the promise of a Savior. also be familiar with contracts. For most things you do, you have to sign 2. Noah and his family: The second a contract: rent a car, buy a house, covenant expands to include Noah credit card, etc. Most contracts and his family. During Noah’s time, are written to hold people legally most of the world had turned responsible should something go away from God, but Noah was wrong. considered a “righteous man” and found favor with God. God Covenants are different. Covenants establishes a covenant with Noah are not just a promise: they are and calls his family to remain stronger. Covenants are eternal. faithful. God promises to never In the Old Testament, God did not food the earth again. create the world and then back off to let us fgure everything out on our own. Instead, God wanted us to be

51 NOTES: A PROMISE ______IS A PROMISE ______Covenants and Salvation History ______EDGE NIGHT OUTLINE ______

______3. Abraham and Sarah: What is Breaking it down ______bigger than a family? In the Old Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham and Testament it’s a tribe. The third Sarah, Moses, and David – these ______covenant God establishes is with are the people with whom God Abraham, Sarah and their tribe. established His covenants. Each of ______Again, Abraham was a faithful man these covenants was established who found favor with God. God by God to bring us into his family. ______promises Abraham that he will be God, our Father, always keeps His the father of many nations and his promise, even when we do not. What ______descendants will outnumber the does God desire from us in these stars. With this covenant, God calls covenants? God desires us to trust ______the people to be obedient and trust Him, be faithful to Him, and obey His in Him. law (the Ten Commandments). ______4. Moses: Abraham’s descendants ______become the Israelites and their numbers grew. They migrate to BREAK ______Egypt and are enslaved by the Egyptians. God calls Moses to lead SMALL GROUP PRAYER ______His people out of slavery and into As your small group begins, say a the Promised Land – their own prayer for the group and the activities ______nation. God reveals His name, I for that session. Invite a youth to lead AM (Exodus 3) and gives them the prayer. ______the Ten Commandments to follow. This covenant is to establish a holy SMALL GROUP ______nation that worships the One, True DISCUSSION God. In your small group discuss the ______following questions: 5. David: The last major covenant in ______the Old Testament is with David 1. What was the purpose of the and the Israelite Kingdom. After the ______candidates giving speeches Israelites are in their new land, they tonight? are governed by spiritual leaders ______called Judges. However, they soon 2. What is wrong with those kinds of begin to demand a king who has ______speeches? authority. God makes a covenant with David and the Israelite people ______3. How is a promise different than a that He will be their God and they covenant? will be His people. This covenant ______establishes a kingship that will 4. Why did God want to establish a be fulflled in the person of Jesus ______covenant with His people? Christ, the King of kings. ______5. In the covenant, what does God expect of the people He makes the covenant with?

52 NOTES:

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______COVENANTAL TOYS THE DAY AFTER Each group will design a new board TOMORROW ______game based on the Old Testament The movie has a powerful message ______Covenants. Use the information on about a father who promises to come Covenantal Tips (Handout A on page for his son in the midst of a global ______58) as an aid. The groups will be disaster. The drama of the movie given a poster board, markers, glue concludes with the father fnding ______and construction paper to create the his son in a library on the verge of game. death. Scene is from the end of ______Chapter 29 through Chapter 30 EXAMINATION OF VIRTUE (1:44:10-1:50:38; approximately 6 ½ ______Examination of Virtue (Handout B on minutes). page 59) is a way for the youth to ______examine how they are living out faith, After the clip: The Old Testament hope and love (charity). Give each tells us the story of God coming for ______middle school youth a copy of the His people. In the movie, the father handout and allow them time to work makes a promise to come after his ______through it. Invite them to pray before son. In the Old Testament, the Father they start. promises us the gift of His Son. God ______is a Father who keeps His promises. FAVORITE BIBLE VERSE He has made a covenant with us – a ______Check in with your middle school covenant that cannot be broken: He youth and how they are doing with will be our Father and we will be His ______their favorite Bible verse. Continue to children. challenge them to fnd other verses ______to read. If necessary, refer them to CLOSING PRAYER: the Bible Topical Index from the frst LECTIO DIVINA ______session. If your group was supposed Tonight we are going to close by to read something, ask them if they using Lectio Divina to meditate on a ______read it and what they understood Scripture verse. So far this semester, from the story/verses. we have shown you several ways to ______help you better understand the Bible. We looked at the different “senses” ______SEND of Scripture, we did a Bible study on Daniel 6 and placed ourselves in the ______place of the different characters. LARGE GROUP PROCESS Give groups an opportunity to ______Another way to read Scripture is share the basic concepts behind to take a small chunk (one or two their games and how they were ______verses) and meditate on them. developed. Meditation is not just about sitting ______on the foor, crossing your legs and clearing your mind. In fact, when we ______meditate, we should never clear our minds completely. We want to quiet

53 ADAPTATION IDEAS: A PROMISE • Have two or three Core Members take turns sharing IS A PROMISE about the different covenants to keep the information Covenants and Salvation History interesting for the middle EDGE NIGHT OUTLINE school youth.

• If you cannot show the clips of the movie, have someone who can be a “story-teller” to our minds of distractions so we can something you don’t understand and capture the meaning behind better hear God. With Lectio Divina, how you can live this out in your life. the story. we are allowing the Holy Spirit to open the Scriptures for us. (After “This is the covenant that I will reading the verse, be sure to pause make with them after those days, before moving on to the next phase.) says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their Let’s start. minds.” Hebrews 10:16

Step 1: Lectio. Step 4: Contemplatio Begin by quieting yourself. Ask God The fnal step is to hear the verse to open the eyes and ears of your again and then be silent. You don’t heart to truly hear the Scripture verse. have to ask any questions, simply sit Don’t rush through it, but listen to and be a child of God. Allow God to every word. The frst time we read the speak to your heart. Scripture verse, we want to read and hear the words. Listen to the words. “This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, “This is the covenant that I will says the Lord: I will put my laws on make with them after those days, their hearts, and write them on their says the Lord: I will put my laws on minds.” Hebrews 10:16 their hearts, and write them on their minds.” Hebrews 10:16 SUMMARY CHALLENGE Before the middle school youth are Step 2: Meditatio sent home they will be challenged to We are going to hear the verse again remember: and have another chance to refect. See if a word or phrase stands out to 1. From time to time we may get you. caught up in the speeches of those who want to promise us things. “This is the covenant that I will We want to believe that people will make with them after those days, keep their promises. says the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their 2. Throughout the Old Testament we minds.” Hebrews 10:16 hear of the covenants that God established with His people: Adam What word or phrase really stood and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, out to you in this passage? What and David. does this mean for you as a son or daughter of God? 3. Covenants are not promises or contracts, but an eternal Step 3: Oratio/Prayer commitment from God to bring us During the third reading of the into His family. Scripture verse, have a conversation with God (prayer) about what you have heard. Ask for guidance on

54 ANNOUNCEMENTS:

1. ______

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4. Like the verse from Hebrews 2. ______tonight, God doesn’t want us to just read about these covenants; ______He desires us to write them upon our hearts; meaning we follow ______them because we love God. ______TO THE PARENTS OF Tonight, we conclude our look at the Old Testament. Through the frst few 3. ______weeks of Edge, we have been able to introduce your middle school youth to ______some of the main stories and themes of the Old Testament and how they ______are still relevant today. However, there is a lot more to read and know. ______Remember, the Old Testament reveals how much God loves His people and gives them the promise 4. ______of a Savior. In the Old Testament we read how God established covenants ______with Adam and Eve, Noah, Abraham, Moses, and David as a way to bring ______us into His family as His sons and daughters. ______

We also looked at a way to meditate upon Scripture with Lectio Divina. 5. ______

Questions for the ride home ______(or throughout the week): ______1. What is the difference between a promise and a covenant? ______

2. Why are God’s covenants important? 6. ______

3. Describe what the Lection Divina ______was like for you. ______

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55 CANDIDATE’S SPEECHES Opening Skit EDGE NIGHT SKIT

Candidate A: Thank you for having us here today. I am honored to be here with you.

Candidate B: I am even more honored. And again, thank you for being here.

Candidate A: Tonight, you have the chance to choose between the two of us. I know that many of you are not satisfed in your schools. If you could, you’d make changes. That’s why I’m here today. If you vote for me, I promise to make things in school better.

Candidate B: People say that a lot – they can make things better. I’m different. With your help, we can make things better, but it will require something from you.

Candidate A: Not me! I can give you longer lunches. You can have tons of time with your friends and to play sports or instruments or whatever.

Candidate B: Long lunches sound good and then you can come by and help me with some of my work. You will have plenty of time after school to play, but you will still have long lunches.

Candidate A: Yeah, well not only long lunches for playing, I can make sure you have less homework. You all want less homework, right?

Candidate B: I can go right now and talk to your teachers to make sure you have less homework and then you can come and help me at the local food pantry.

Candidate A: You don’t need to do that – listen to what I can do for you! (Begin adding promises that are relevant to youth in your area.)

Candidate B: (Also begin turning the promises of Candidate A into ways the youth can help you.) (Concluding Statements)

Candidate A: This is the face of someone you can trust. I have made a lot of promises tonight, and I intend to keep all of them: more time off, longer lunches, no homework, etc. Please vote for me for your new Class President.

Candidate B: Thank you again for your time tonight. I want you to have things, but it will require work, hard work. If you do these things, I will be able to keep my promises to help you. Please use your paper ballot now that was given to you as you came in tonight and put the name of the candidate you want to win. Thank you. 56 CANDIDATE’S SPEECHES

57 COVENANTAL TIPS Handout A EDGE NIGHT HANDOUT

INSTRUCTIONS Use the following information to help create your Covenant Game Board

FIRST COVENANT: ADAM AND EVE • Covenant with a man and woman, husband and wife • God reveals His desire to have an everlasting bond with us • Covenant is made with a husband and wife, showing the importance of marriage • The covenant is broken when Adam and Eve eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil

SECOND COVENANT: NOAH • Covenant is with Noah and his family • Covenant expands from a husband and wife to a family • Noah was a righteous and faithful man • God destroys the earth by a food • The new covenant is marked by the rainbow in the sky • God will never destroy the earth by water again

THIRD COVENANT: ABRAHAM AND SARAH • Covenant extends from the family to a tribe • Abraham is an honorable man when many have returned to wickedness • God promises Abraham land for his people and numerous descendants • Abraham is the father of many nations • God desires the people to be faithful to Him

FOURTH COVENANT: MOSES • The descendants of Abraham have fallen into slavery in Egypt • God promises to deliver them from slavery and desires His people to turn away from worshiping false gods • Covenant builds from a tribe to the Israelite Nation • Moses leads them out of Egypt through the Red Sea • God becomes more personal by revealing His name (I AM) • God gives the Israelites the Ten Commandments (Law) to know how to live faithfully

FIFTH COVENANT: DAVID • The covenant has grown from a husband and wife to an entire kingdom • The covenant requires people to remain faithful to God • The Israelites ask God to appoint a king over them so that they have a spiritual leader • David is anointed king of Israel • The kingdom and house of David established forever • Promise of a savior or Messiah from the line of David

58 EXAMINATION OF VIRTUE Handout B EDGE NIGHT HANDOUT

INSTRUCTIONS Take some time to read through and refect on the following statements. Journal some of your responses as a way to help put your thoughts into words. If you keep this page, you can also refer back to it in a week, month, six months, or even a year to see how your relationship with God has developed.

FAITH: Do I pray daily for an increase of faith? Have I defended the Catholic faith when I hear others speaking badly about it? Do I rely on God for those diffcult times in my life or do I try to go through them by myself? Do I ever try to “make deals” with God to get out of trouble instead of having faith in God to care for me? What have I done today to show my faith to others?

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HOPE: Do I pray for hope each day? Do I think about my problems all day or ask God for help and guidance? How many times today have I complained? Do I try to say a prayer with everything I do throughout the day?

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LOVE: Have I told God that I love Him today? Have I told God that I love Him even when I’m going through diffcult times? Have I talked to others unkindly (gossip, put-downs, bullying, etc.)? How have I treated those that I dislike? When I meet someone, do I dwell on their faults or try to love them as God loves them?

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