1. On a scale of 1 to 10 (1-not important, 10-very important) rank the following:
   • being popular
   • having friends
   • having nice clothes
   • achieving good grades
   • achieving success and recognition for your talents
   Can these pursuits become so important in life that they become false gods?
   Explain.
2. In the video, Eric says, "Baseball is all I need." Will Eric be fully happy if he is successful at baseball?
3. What sacrifices will Eric have to make in order to play college and professional baseball? What level of dedication will he have to make?
4. Set the scene: Have someone read Matthew 6:33, "Seek first God's kingdom and all the things you need will be given to you." Ask: What do these words of Jesus mean to you? How do these words of Jesus relate to the First Commandment?
5. Set the scene: Make a pie chart that represents the way you spend your time during an average 24-hour day. Does the way you spend the hours of each day represent what you really think is important? Do you give time each day to prayer?

Pause Tape

The Second Commandment:
You shall not take the name of the Lord your God in vain.
Approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 21.

Discussion:

1. What are some examples of how the power of words can help people? How can it hurt people?
2. Is your language the same with friends, parents, and teachers? How important is it to have the same standards of language no matter what the situation?
3. Set the scene: Point out that the people of Israel showed great respect for God's name—in fact, so great that they considered God's name (Yahweh) too sacred to pronounce. Ask: How do you show respect for God's name?
4. What is your reaction when you hear the names of God, Jesus, Mary, or the saints used in an offensive way? How do you keep these names holy?

Pause Tape

The Third Commandment:
Remember to keep holy the Lord's Day.
Approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 21.

Discussion:

1. Why is Sunday special for Christians?
2. How do you make Sunday special?
3. Why is participating in Mass on Sunday an especially important way to make Sunday special?
4. How can people who have busy schedules on Sunday balance their obligations and still honor the Third Commandment?
5. Set the scene: Point out that the Israelites had strict rules for honoring the Sabbath and that Jesus taught that the spirit of the law is more important than the letter of the law. Ask: What does Jesus mean when he talks about the spirit of the law versus the letter of the law?

Pause Tape

The Fourth Commandment:
Honor your father and your mother.
Approximately 2 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 22.

Discussion:

1. How can a person respectfully disagree with his or her parents?
2. Why is it important to respect our parents?
3. Does the Fourth Commandment include respecting other people in authority, such as teachers, grandparents, aunts and uncles?
4. What are some ways for family members to respectfully get along with one another while respecting their differences of opinion?

Pause Tape

The Fifth Commandment:
You shall not kill.
Approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 22.

Discussion:

1. How do you show respect for the gift of your life? For the lives of other people?
2. What are some things you regularly do to take care of your health?
3. What does the Church teach about the beginning and end of human life?
4. What is the responsibility of a reckless driver who causes an accident?
5. Set the scene: Point out that Pope John Paul II has consistently spoken out on the dignity of human life. Read this quote, which he has made on several occasions: "To choose life means rejecting every form of violence." Ask: What do these words mean about the sacredness of human life?

Pause Tape

The Sixth Commandment:
You shall not commit adultery.

The Ninth Commandment:
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife.

Approximately 3 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 22.

Discussion:

1. What does it mean for a husband and wife to be faithful to one another forever?
2. Set the scene: Have someone read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13. Ask: What does Saint Paul say about love? What would you add to his description of love?
3. How do boys and girls your age show respect for one another?
4. What is the impact and influence of TV, music, and films on how we look at the relationships between men and women?

Pause Tape

The Seventh Commandment:
You shall not steal.
Approximately 4 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 22.

Discussion:

1. What are Michelle's responsibilities regarding all store merchandise?
2. What can Michelle do to make a wrong action right? What advice did Eric and Jason give to Michelle? What advice would you give to Michelle?
3. What makes stealing serious? The value of what is stolen? Who the true owner is of what is stolen? Getting caught stealing?
4. Who are the victims of theft in the case of shoplifting? When school property is stolen? When personal property is stolen?
5. How do you, stores, schools, public buildings, and car owners protect their property against theft? How effective are these steps in terms of reducing theft?

Pause Tape

The Eighth Commandment:
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
Approximately 2 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 22.

Discussion:

1. How can untrue rumors change someone's life?
2. What could Michelle and her friend do to give the new band director a fair start in his new position?
3. Why did Michelle decide to quit the school band? What advice would you offer her so she would be able to make the best possible decision?
4. Is it ever acceptable to lie? To spread untrue rumors? In your opinion, how widespread is lying in everyday life? In school? In government? Does lying seem to be on the increase or decrease? Explain.

Pause Tape

The Tenth Commandment:
You shall not covet your neighbor's goods.
Approximately 2 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 22.

Discussion:

1. What is the difference between admiring something, like Mr. Watters' motorcycle, and coveting it?
2. How can people be happy with what they have, yet strive for new possessions without being materialistic? Do you own things or do things own you? Explain.
3. Set the scene: Point out that Jason and Martin both wanted to have a motorcycle. Ask: How did their intentions differ about obtaining a motorcycle?
4. How do you respond to being told:
   • We can't afford that.
   • We are not able to get that right now, maybe later.
   • We want you to wait until you are older.
5. How much time do you spend at a shopping mall each week? Does visiting a shopping mall make you want to own more things? What are the dangers of wanting too many things that we don't really need?

Pause Tape

The Ten Commandments
Approximately 1 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapters 20-22.

Discussion:

1. What do the Ten Commandments have to do with how you live?
2. Set the scene: Point out that the Golden Rule, in one form or another, is a basic rule of living in all major religions. In the Christian tradition, it is found in Luke 6:31, "Do to others as you would have them do to you." Ask: What are some similarities between the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule that help you live as a follower of Jesus?

Segment 5:

The Visual Bible™: Sermon on the Mount
Approximately 8 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 18.

Bible reference:
On-location reenactment of Matthew 6-7.

Background:
Father Timothy begins this segment by talking about "cool stuff." He goes on to say that Jesus does not want us to depend on things to be happy. Instead, he wants us to depend on him so we can be truly happy.

Discussion:

1. What is some "cool stuff" that you collect?
2. What are some things you can do to be a stronger follower of Jesus?
3. What are some things you do that can get in the way of following Jesus?
4. What is true happiness?
5. Do you agree with Father Timothy that judging other people and relying on things to make us happy are signs that we don't like ourselves? That we are insecure in our hearts?

1. What is the difference between worrying about our basic needs and working hard to provide for those needs? How does God show his care for us and his awareness of our needs?
2. Set the scene: Point out that in his introductory remarks Father Timothy suggests that we sometimes judge others because we are insecure in our hearts. Ask: What are some good reasons for not judging others? What is an insecure heart?
3. What are some reasons for what you consider the most obvious obstacle to following Jesus?
4. Set the scene: Have the children visually recall the crowd scenes in the video. Ask: What are some of the reactions of the people as they listened to Jesus? What is your reaction?
5. Set the scene: Have the children visually insert themselves in the crowd scenes in the video. Ask: Why is Jesus a great teacher? Why did people stop and listen to him? Why did you listen to him?

1. Why did the rich young man become sad?
2. Do wealth and fame make it more difficult to follow Jesus? Explain.
3. What are some things we can do to let Jesus know that we depend on him and want to be his disciple?
4. How do people become attached to things? What attitude does Jesus want you to have toward possessions and things?
5. What is the Christian responsibility to people who are poor? To those who are in need?

Segment 6:

Story of Faith: Social Action
Approximately 8 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Chapter 19.

Background:
Teenage sisters Becca and Honey Laptook tell about organizing a volunteer group called G.L.O.W. (Giving and Learning Our Way). They started their service project by sending out 40 invitations; they now have over 400 volunteers. Becca and Honey discuss the importance of commitment and follow-through for successful volunteer work.

Discussion:

1. What are the choices you have for using your free time? Make a list of all possible choices.
2. When the young people chose to volunteer to work with G.L.O.W., what benefits and changes in their lives came about?
3. Tell a story about a time when you were disappointed because someone did not keep a promise to you or failed to show up for an event.
4. What are some reasons why people volunteer for something and fail to keep their commitment? What is the best way to avoid mix-ups of this kind?
5. What is the connection between faith and service to others?

Segment 7:

Prayer: Psalm 148
Approximately 6 1/2 minutes.

Text reference:
Can be used for various prayer experiences throughout the year.

Background:
Spiritual writers insist that the Psalms teach us how to pray. It is fascinating to pick up a Bible and open it near the center. You will find that the Psalms are located near the center of the Bible. In praying the Psalms, what was true of the ancient Israelites is true for us now: we speak with our hearts and souls to express our intimate friendship with God. Psalm 148 is an ideal prayer for praising God. Creation tells us about God. Every aspect of creation reflects something about God's goodness and love. Psalm 148 tells us that creation is good and deserving of our special care.

Discussion:

1. How does praying Psalm 148 help you celebrate the glory of God?
2. Set the scene: Point out that the Israelites poured out all their emotions to God when praying the Psalms: anger, joy, hope. They held back nothing. Ask: What encourages you to be totally honest with God when praying?
3. Set the scene: Point out that spiritual writers claim that just as infants learn their native language from their parents, so too do Christians learn the language of prayer from the Psalms. Ask: What do the Psalms teach you about praying?