God Is Our Father (What We Must Do as Children of God) – Basic 1 Christian Religious Studies Lesson Note (First Term)

A child of God is a person who believes in Jesus and has received the right to become God’s child. Children of God love and obey Him, pray, read the Bible, go to church, live a holy life, love and forgive others, share the good news and give thanks. God loves, protects, provides for and guides His children.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

• say what it means to be a child of God;
• list things we must do as children of God;
• name things God does for us as His children;
• recall Bible places where God is called our Father;
• say the Lord’s Prayer.

What does it mean to be a child of God?

The Bible says: “Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God” (John 1:12).

If we believe in Jesus, we are God’s children!

What must we do as children of God?

1. Love God

How to love God:

• With all your heart: love Him completely
• With all your soul: love Him deeply
• With all your mind: think about Him
• With all your strength: love Him with all you have

Ways to show we love God:

• Pray to Him every day
• Read the Bible
• Sing praises to Him
• Obey His commandments
• Tell others about Him

2. Obey God

What God wants us to obey:

• The Ten Commandments: God’s rules
• Love your neighbour: be kind to everyone
• Respect your parents: honour father and mother
• Tell the truth: do not lie
• Be kind: help others

3. Pray always

Prayer is talking to God.

When to pray:

• Morning: thank God for the new day
• Before meals: thank God for food
• Night: thank God for the day
• Anytime: God is always ready to listen

What to pray for:

• Thank God for His blessings
• Ask for what you need
• Pray for others
• Ask for forgiveness

4. Read the Bible

The Bible is God’s Word.

Why read the Bible:

• To learn about God
• To know what God wants
• To grow in faith
• To know Bible stories

5. Go to church

Church is God’s house.

Why go to church:

• To worship God
• To learn about Jesus
• To meet other Christians
• To praise God together

6. Be holy

Holy means to be like God: pure and good.

How to be holy:

• Do not sin
• Do what is right
• Stay away from bad things
• Be a good example

7. Love others

Jesus said: “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31).

Who to love:

• Your family
• Your friends
• Your classmates
• Even your enemies

How to show love:

• Be kind
• Help others
• Share your things
• Forgive others

8. Forgive others

Jesus taught us to forgive. The Bible says: “Forgive, and you will be forgiven” (Luke 6:37).

How to forgive:

• When someone hurts you
• When someone says sorry
• Do not hold grudges
• Let it go

9. Share the good news

Tell others about Jesus.

How to share:

• Tell your friends about Jesus
• Invite people to church
• Be a good example
• Let your light shine

10. Be thankful

Always thank God.

What to thank God for:

• Your life
• Your family
• Your food
• Everything!

What does God do for us as His children?

1. He loves us
   • God’s love is unconditional
   • He never stops loving us
2. He protects us
   • God is our protector
   • He keeps us safe
3. He provides for us
   • God gives us everything we need
   • Food, water, clothes, shelter
4. He guides us
   • God shows us the way
   • He leads us on the right path
5. He forgives us
   • When we sin and say sorry
   • God forgives us
6. He listens to our prayers
   • God hears every prayer
   • He answers us
7. He gives us peace
   • God comforts us
   • He gives us joy
8. He gives us eternal life
   • Through Jesus
   • We will live with God forever in Heaven

Where in the Bible is God called our Father?

1. The Lord’s Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13)

Jesus taught us to pray:

“Our Father in Heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come,
Your will be done,
On earth as it is in Heaven…”

2. Jesus called God “Father”

• Jesus always called God “Father”
• In the Garden of Gethsemane: “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me” (Luke 22:42)
• On the cross: “Father, forgive them” (Luke 23:34)

3. Paul’s letters

• “For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, ‘Abba, Father'” (Romans 8:15)
• “Abba” means “Daddy” in Aramaic

4. God’s love for Israel

• “Is not Ephraim my dear son, the child in whom I delight?” (Jeremiah 31:20)
• God called Israel His child

5. The Prodigal Son story

• A father had two sons
• One son ran away and wasted his money
• When he returned home, the father welcomed him with love
• This shows how God welcomes us when we come back to Him
• God is like that loving father

How can we have God as our Father?

1. Believe in Jesus

• Jesus is the way to God
• Believe that Jesus died for your sins
• Accept Jesus as your Saviour

2. Say this prayer

“Dear God,
I believe You are my Father.
I believe Jesus died for my sins.
I am sorry for the wrong things I have done.
Please forgive me.
Come into my heart, Jesus.
Make me Your child.
I want to follow You all my life.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

If you pray this prayer and mean it, you become a child of God!

What are the blessings of being God’s child?

• You are never alone
• God is always with you
• You have a Father who loves you
• You will go to Heaven
• God takes care of you
• You are special
• You are protected
• You are blessed

Evaluation

Choose the correct answer.

1. As children of God, we must _____ Him.
   a) ignore
   b) love and obey
   c) forget
2. Jesus taught us to call God _____.
   a) King only
   b) Father
   c) Master
3. We should pray to God _____.
   a) never
   b) once a year
   c) always
4. The Bible is God’s _____.
   a) Word
   b) toy
   c) picture
5. God _____ us when we say sorry.
   a) punishes forever
   b) forgives
   c) ignores

Assignment

1. Pray the Lord’s Prayer every day this week.
2. Read one Bible story with your parents.
3. Tell one friend about Jesus.
4. Write: God is my Heavenly Father.