The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria
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THE COPTIC ORTHODOX PATRIARCATE ST. GEORGE AND ST. RUEISS CHURCH SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM GRADE ELEVEN Revised Edition 2005 PREPARATION AND WRITING Father Rueiss Awad St. George and St. Rueiss Coptic Orthodox Church Toronto, Canada. To Order Write To St. George and St. Rueiss Coptic Orthodox Church 141 Bond Avenue Toronto, Ontario, CANADA M3B 1M1 (416) 444-1092 or (416) 447-0108 Copyright © 2005 by St. George and St. Rueiss Coptic Orthodox Church All rights reserved No portion of this book may be reproduced or copied in any form without a written permission from St. George and St. Rueiss Coptic Orthodox Church, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Saint Mark H.H. Pope Shenouda III 5 To my blessed two sons: Hegomain Fr. Marcous Elias Abdel Massih and Hegomain Fr. Tadros Yacoub Malaty. Peace and love be with you. Dr. Mahfouz has visited me and brought with him the suggested Sunday school curriculum for the land of immigration. I have studied with him the basic topics of the curriculum without getting into details. Although that I have pointed out some concerns on the doctrine and dogma curriculum, it is clear that the amount of work spent on preparing the curriculum is huge and worth thanking. Nonetheless, the Bible study part of the curriculum needs to be increased. God willing, I will also send you additional details on this curriculum. May the Lord bless all the effort that our son Mahfouz has done in preparing the Sunday school curriculum, in collecting the relevant topics, and in performing the translation of subjects. May the Lord also bless all those who have joined him in preparing this project and those who revised the topics. Let our goal be performing our best to try and arrive at perfection given what we have from abilities. Lastly, I would also suggest the addition of different recognized pictures according to our doctrine, dogma and history to the Sunday school curriculum. May the Lord be with you. Be in peace. Signed Pope Shenouda III 22 August 1986 The feast of St. Mary 6 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION TO THE SUNDAY SCHOOL PROGRAM............................................................................10 INTRODUCTION .....................................................................................................................................................27 SEPTEMBER ............................................................................................................................................................29 FIRST SUNDAY....................................................................................................................................................29 THE APOSTOLIC FATHERS: WHY DID THEY LOVE MARTYRDOM?.........................................................29 SECOND SUNDAY...............................................................................................................................................35 NOT EVERYONE IS RIGHT – ( I )....................................................................................................................35 THIRD SUNDAY...................................................................................................................................................41 NOT EVERYONE IS RIGHT – ( II )...................................................................................................................41 FOURTH SUNDAY...............................................................................................................................................49 CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF SUCCESS & THE MEANS OF ACHIEVING IT - ( I ) ..........................49 OCTOBER .................................................................................................................................................................55 FIRST SUNDAY....................................................................................................................................................55 CHRISTIAN UNDERSTANDING OF SUCCESS & THE MEANS OF ACHIEVING IT – (II) ..........................55 SECOND SUNDAY...............................................................................................................................................61 EVIL COMPANY – ( I )......................................................................................................................................61 THIRD SUNDAY...................................................................................................................................................67 EVIL COMPANY – (II) ......................................................................................................................................67 FOURTH SUNDAY...............................................................................................................................................73 CONFIDENCE IN GOD'S PRESENCE WITH US ............................................................................................73 FIFTH SUNDAY....................................................................................................................................................79 IMPORTANCE OF LIGHT/WITNESS TO THE WORLD..................................................................................79 NOVEMBER..............................................................................................................................................................89 FIRST SUNDAY....................................................................................................................................................89 ANSWERING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES –( I )..................................................................................................89 SECOND SUNDAY...............................................................................................................................................97 ANSWERING JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES – (II) .................................................................................................97 THIRD SUNDAY.................................................................................................................................................103 SERVING THE LORD – ( I )............................................................................................................................103 FOURTH SUNDAY.............................................................................................................................................111 SERVING THE LORD – (II) ............................................................................................................................111 DECEMBER............................................................................................................................................................115 FIRST SUNDAY..................................................................................................................................................115 JOB'S WIFE - NARROW LOOK AT GOD.......................................................................................................115 SECOND SUNDAY.............................................................................................................................................121 THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE MIDNIGHT PRAISE.......................................................................................121 THIRD SUNDAY.................................................................................................................................................125 HOLY BIBLE STUDY – ( I ) ............................................................................................................................125 FOURTH SUNDAY.............................................................................................................................................131 HOLY BIBLE STUDY – (II) .............................................................................................................................131 FIFTH SUNDAY..................................................................................................................................................137 HOLY BIBLE STUDY – (III)............................................................................................................................137 JANUARY................................................................................................................................................................141 FIRST SUNDAY..................................................................................................................................................141 THE JOYS OF JANUARY ................................................................................................................................141 SECOND SUNDAY.............................................................................................................................................145 STEPS TOWARDS A PEACEFUL LIFE – ( I )................................................................................................145 7 THIRD SUNDAY.................................................................................................................................................149 STEPS TOWARDS A PEACEFUL LIFE – (II) ................................................................................................149 FOURTH SUNDAY.............................................................................................................................................153 QUESTIONS