Unit 1: How Do We Nourish God’s Gift of Faith Unit 1: How Do We Nourish God’s Gift of Faith? Chapter 1: We Respond to God’s Love Grade 8

Objective: To explain that we are created to respond to the goodness and love of God.

Vocabulary: Human dignity—the value and worth that we share because God created us in his image and likeness

Vocabulary: Natural law—the law of God within us, which is known by human reason

Vocabulary: Conscience—the ability to know the difference between good and evil, right and wrong

Vocabulary: Free will—God’s gift to human beings of the freedom and ability to choose what we do

Vocabulary: Original sin—the first sin committed by the first human beings

Vocabulary: Eternal life—a life of happiness with God forever

Vocabulary: Grace—a participation, or a sharing, in God’s life and friendship

Vocabulary: Church—the community of people who believe in Jesus Christ, have been baptized in him, and follow his teachings

Vocabulary: Holiness—a participation in God’s goodness and a response to God’s love by the way that we live

Vocabulary: Kingdom of God—the power of God’s love active in our lives and in our world

How can I be true to myself? The Big Question: How can I be true to myself?

We Reflect the Goodness of God: In Scripture we read, “God is love” (1 John 4:8). Because God created us in his image and likeness, we reflect his love and eternal goodness. A great sign of our dignity is our ability to choose right over wrong. Since we have the ability to choose to live in God’s image, we can also choose not to.

An Examination of Conscience: This is the practice of thinking about our choices and determining whether we have followed God’s law and the teachings and example of Jesus. Thank Jesus for your good choices. Ask Jesus to forgive you for any sinful choices. Plan to ask those you may have hurt for forgiveness, too.

God Forgives Our Sins: Because of original sin, we are subject to ignorance, suffering, and death, and we have a tendency to use our free will to turn from God and his laws. Sin is any thought, word, deed, or omission against God’s laws. Mortal sin completely breaks our friendship with God. Venial sin is less serious, but weakens our relationship with God.

We Live Holy Lives: Throughout Jesus’ public ministry, his work among the people, he showed that he truly believed that all human life should be respected and treasured. Supporting one another as the Church, with God’s grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can live as Jesus lived.

The Blessed Trinity: The words, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, express the relationship among the three Divine Persons of God and are central to our relationship with God.

We Give Witness to Jesus: Jesus’ first disciples gave witness to Jesus by showing that they believed in him. Jesus showed his followers that through discipleship to him they would share love, freedom, justice, and peace in this life.

Archdiocesan Review Section: Theme: Developing relationships with others and God is essential to becoming our true selves. Objective: To understand the elements which are essential to developing positive relationships.

The Nature and Purpose of Relationships: Throughout our lives, we develop relationships with many people. To all our relationships, we bring ourselves. The various relationships we have throughout our lives can be a source of growth.

Created as Relational Beings: The Book of Genesis reveals that God created us to be in relationship with God and with one another. Created in the image of God, who is a Trinity of persons, we are called to mirror the relationship of love. In Baptism, we are made a new creation in Christ.

Love: The Cornerstone of All Relationships: One of our most basic human needs is to love and to be loved. All genuine love comes from God. “God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God in them.” (1 John 4:16) There are different kinds of love that are appropriate to different kinds of relationships.

Type of Love: Family Love: Family Love is the love of a parent for a child. It is also the love a child has for their parents. Family love includes the love spouses have for each other and relatives for one another.

Type of Love: Friendship: Friendship is the deep, tender affection which exists between friends. Friendship includes shared interests as well as mutual trust and enjoyment of one another’s company.

Type of love: Eros: Eros is passionate human love which can exist between a man and a woman. Eros always seeks union and thus includes sexual love.

Type of Love: Agape: Agape is a conscious choice to will the good of another. It is not a feeling. This Christian love treats all with kindness no matter what they may have done to us, no matter whether we like them or they life us.

The Value of Relationships: Through our interactions with others, we can come to know ourselves better. Through our relationships with others, we make a contribution to the world. Relationships founded on justice, love, and mutual respect also help to build up the Church.