Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Omaha

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Orthodox Christian Sunday School Lessons

Welcome to our Sunday school resources web site. Years ago when I became a Sunday school teacher I remember agonizing over it; and the search for materials, insights and hints. Being entrusted with the spiritual education of others is a sobering effort! In addition to these written lessons I also have a series of multi-media lessons that do not have links here due to issues with bandwidth. If you would like to view and possibly download them please email me.

These lessons are free for non-profit, educational use. Please feel free to email me "dave@aroundomaha.com" with questions, corrections and especially with offers to help produce more!

In Christ,

Dave Elfering

High School Lessons (New 2010-2011)

Most lessons are in both html and Adobe PDF format. The PDF files will have better formatting and page numbers, but the HTML is here for easy access so you can see if a lesson will be helpful.

God is Love: Based on Father Hopko's "rainbow" books, our High School Impact ministry class's focus for 2010-2011 is on the Love of God in all its many facets within Orthodox Christianity. We will relate how every element of Orthodoxy from Liturgy, to art to music relates to the love of God. More importantly this year's focus is on applied Orthodoxy through praxis and theosis that becomes part of our lives 24x7x365.

God Is Love Syllabus: HTML | PDF

Lesson Plan Guideline: Sometimes its hard to evaluate whether a lesson we are working on is a good one or not. This short, helpful lesson plan evaluation guide gives several tips against which to objectively look at our lessons.

HTML | PDF

Lesson One: Focusing on the Love of God, some of the distractions people mistake for true agape love and an in class activity.
HTML | PDF

Lesson Two : Continuing class one. It repeats to some degree as we were not able to completely finish the first lesson. In addition we moved on to discuss love of neighbor and more about the practical nature of theosis.
HTML | PDF

 

 

Junior High Lessons

Most lessons are in both html and Adobe PDF format. The PDF files will have better formatting and page numbers, but the HTML is here for easy access so you can see if a lesson will be helpful.

Looking for God in Harry Potter: Christian Sunday school lessons on this wonderful series.

Lesson One: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. A full lesson on the wonderful Christian themes we can find within the movie and the book.
HTML | PDF
*NEW* Lesson Two : Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. There is a battle being waged! Great insights on spiritual struggle, good & evil and friendship.
HTML | PDF

Lessons on Personal Faith

Lesson One: Don't be Stinky Cheese: A lesson on appearances and truth as Christians
HTML | PDF
Lesson One : Discipleship: What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?
HTML | PDF
Lesson Two: Discipleship: What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?
PDF
 

Orthodox worship through the Divine Liturgy

Lesson One: What is worship?
HTML
Lesson Two: Introduction to the Divine Liturgy. Looking into the Liturgy of Catechumens
HTML
Lesson Three: The Antiphons, especially number 3 - the Beatitudes
HTML
Lesson Four: Finishing the Liturgy of Catechumens
HTML
Lesson Five: Exploring the Liturgy of the Faithful
HTML

Lessons on Church architecture and an intro to the Divine Liturgy

Lesson One: What is important, our lives in the Church!
HTML | PDF
Lesson Two: Looking into the Church Narthex
HTML | PDF
Lesson Three: Exploring the Church Nave
HTML | PDF
Lesson Four: Diving further into the Nave and It's Icons
HTML | PDF
Lesson Five: Moving on to the Church Sanctuary
HTML | PDF
Lesson Six: The roots of Orthodox Divine Liturgy
HTML | PDF
Lesson Eight: The Orthodox Liturgy of the Catechumens (St. Chrysostom Liturgy)
HTML | PDF

A Few Topical Lessons

About Christmas: Simple lesson on the truth of Christmas
HTML | PDF
About Faith: Short simple lesson on having faith.
HTML | PDF
About the "Rapture": A short, Orthodox view of the rapture and "left behind".
HTML
What is "good": Exploring what good really is.
HTML

 

Educational Games & Puzzles

Generated by a great web site hosted at http://school.discovery.com The service is free, but you do have to generate the worksheets yourself. Very highly recommended!
Youth Scavenger Hunt : A youth scavenger hunt for Valas Pumpkin Patch in Omaha Nebraska. This idea has worked well for our annual youth trip to the local pumpkin farm. We divide up into teams and they complete the objectives together.
PDF
Nicene Creed: A fill-in-the-blank puzzle to teach the Creed.
HTML | PDF
Scripture Finders Crossword - "Love": Puzzle that lets kids have fun while getting them familar with Scripture. This one centers on the word "love", the most important of spiritual gifts.
HTML | PDF
Scripture Finders Crossword - "The Poor" : Puzzle that lets kids have fun while getting them familar with Scripture. This one centers on the "the poor" as found in the Bible. Identifying with the poor is often hard, so this gives them God's Word about mercy and generosity.
HTML | PDF
Scripture Finders Crossword - "Tribulation": Puzzle that lets kids have fun while getting them familar with Scripture. This one centers on the word "tribulation" to emphasize the continuing series of challenges to our faith and love for God.
HTML | PDF
Scripture Finders Crossword - "Trust": Puzzle that lets kids have fun while getting them familar with Scripture. This one centers on the word "trust". Who are kids to trust of not our God?
HTML | PDF
Word Scramble: A word scramble with a hidden message!.
HTML | PDF

 
Sunday School Resources